The Cycle of Love

In the ‘60s, artists such as Horace Silver, Ramsey Lewis, and Cannonball Adderly incorporated elements of R&B, blues, and gospel into their sound; the popular style came to be known as Soul Jazz. Trumpeter and composer Maurice Brown is doing something similar in the 21st century as he subtly brings elements of modern R&B and hip-hop into his music. On 2010’s The Cycle of Love, Brown fronts a quintet that includes tenor saxophonist Derek Douget, pianist Chris Rob, drummer Joe Blaxx, and bassist Solomon Dorsey. The opener, “Fly By Night,” delights with a theme that, at points, seems to slow down before speeding back up. The catchy “Good Vibrations” has a soulful vibe, while on “Time Tick Tock” zigzagging horn lines dance over the locked-in rhythm, and Brown’s trumpet hints at Miles Davis. “Merry Go Round” has a sense of forward motion that evokes an amusement park ride turning in slow motion. “Lovely” is a nice, old school-style ballad, while the title cut spotlights another one of Brown’s striking heads. Throughout the album, solos are sharply focused; there isn’t a wasted note in earshot.