The Clifford Brown Project

This warm and energetic tribute to the late trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown (who died tragically in 1956 at the age of 26, having single-handedly changed the way jazz trumpet was heard and understood in the United States) is slightly mournful but mostly joyful, a celebration of musical genius and creativity that looks backward while taking the music forward. Bandleader Mark Masters achieves the latter by taking such classic and beloved Brown compositions as "Joy Spring," "Sandu," and "Bones for Jones" and arranging them for a large ensemble that includes no fewer than five trumpets, four of which perform newly harmonized arrangements of Brown's own solos from his early-'50s recordings. The effect is both lushly beautiful and, on tracks like the upbeat "Sweet Clifford" and "Joy Spring," electrifyingly intense. The featured trumpet soloist on these recordings is Tim Hagans, and while his own solos are very fine, they rarely provide moments as inspired as those harmonized resurrections of Brown's improvisations from 50 years ago. The subtle elegance of pianist Cecilia Coleman's backup playing is especially worthy of note as well. Highly recommended.