Customer Reviews

Gemini

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sean Jones' sophomore disc for Mack Avenue records finds the young trumpeter working both sides of the street, so to speak--the jazz side and the funk side. But he fools you by mixing things up in an intriguing way: the hard-bop numbers often occur in an electric context, and the fink numbers emerge from an acoustic matrix.

Does it work?

Yes, and very well. Only 27 years old when this disc was recorded, Jones exhibits both chops and savvy beyond his years. For one thing, he's brought together some of the finest jazz musicians on the planet: Mulgrew Miller (piano); Orrin Evans (keyboards); label mate Ron Blake (tenor sax); and E. J. Strickland (drums). Lesser known, but equally adept, are Tia Fuller (alto sax and flute); Walter Smith III (tenor sax), Kenny Davis (acoustic and electric bass), Andre Hayward (trombone), and Corey Rawls (drums). These players, given some wonderful original and traditional material to work with, all deliver fine performances. That Jones had the courage and vision to craft a disc that ventures rather beyond the typical hard-bop or funk session--and to gather players of such accomplishment and get them to produce on such a high level--bespeaks a very bright future for the leader.

With discs of such brilliance--one thinks also of recent efforts by Jason Moran, Brad Mehldau, Stefon Harris, Loren Stillman, Ben Allison, Michael Blake, and Rudresh Mahanthappa--coming from the younger generation of jazzers, the music seems to be in very good hands.

Sean Jones' tone, intonation and musicality are stellar. On this CD, the material is interesting and appealing, the other musicians are outstanding and Jones is great. The bop and funkier tracks blend well. The uses of synth keyboard on a few tracks is tasteful and adds to rather than detracting from the overall sound and musical quality. This is a CD I have found myself listening to every day, and I am sure I will be enjoying this for years. IMO, one of the best jazz CDs in recent years.

Very strong horn player, with an excellent command of the tonal qualities. Puts me in the feeling of listening to Miles and Clifford Brown.

An excellent representation of Jones and his dual sides of traditional and exploratory Jazz. While not as visionary as some of the tracks on his follow up gospel-influenced recording, Gemini nonetheless is this important trumpeter's second greatest work in a (so far) exciting catalog.

This Trumpeter is one of the cream of the crop to have evolved from a stellar group such as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, not to mention he is a fellow Ohioan.

This cd is great whether you want to hear upbeat tunes or just something to relax to.

Sean Jones, from start to finish, supplies a consistently interesting and exciting batch of JAZZ with his Gemini effort.

You hear all this hype about "young lions" and the next thang....well, this guy is a PLAYER! I'm not a huge jazz head - most jazz leaves me confused and longing for alcohol....but Sean Jones is an interesting musician. He takes some risks, combines pieces of other genres and creates his own room....one that isn't pretentious...but welcoming. It's hard to believe this guy is only 27....

If you are a serious music collector - and like me, you have samples of what you feel are the BEST of each genre, then for "jazz" Gemini by Sean Jones deserves a place. It is that good.

Hats off to the Mack Avenue guys...