Aug 7, 2024 2:02 PM
Snarky Puppy’s Shaun Martin Dies at 45
Shaun Martin, a multifaceted, Grammy-winning pianist, keyboardist and producer who was best known for his work in the…
Josh Lawrence leads the band Color Theory.
(Photo: Ola Baldych)When New York trumpeter and composer Josh Lawrence created his Color Theory ensemble and concept, his intention was to move away from the narrative, topical nature of his previous works in favor of more evocative, elusive ones. He wanted fellow musicians and listeners to rely more on their imaginations to interpret the meanings of his songs. “It was really just about taking primary colors,” said the 35-year-old Lawrence, referring to the group’s self-titled 2016 debut on Posi-Tone.
Armed with gladiator-like technical prowess and a flaring tone, Lawrence steered his ensemble of pianist Orrin Evans, alto saxophonist Caleb Curtis, drummer Anwar Marshall, trombonist Brent White, bassist Madison Rast and keyboardist Adam Faulk through a dazzling set of modern post-bop originals on Color Theory (Posi-Tone). Compositions such as the surging “Red!” or the lovely “Purple (4 Prince)” crackled with melodic ingenuity, rhythmic panache and vigorous interaction. “I’m a very visual person,” Lawrence said, “but I don’t see color so much when I play; I see a lot of shapes and I feel the music as colors.”
For a follow-up, Lawrence wanted to expand upon his idea. He’d gone to the Guggenheim Museum and absorbed inspiration from a Wassily Kandinsky exhibition. Those large-scale paintings, marked by vivid splashes of colors and geometrical shapes, motivated Lawrence to compose songs based upon them.
He began writing with support from a Chamber Music America grant. Then life threw him a curve. Right before he and his wife, Ola Baldych, moved from Philadelphia to New York in 2016, Lawrence’s brother-in-law, Grisha, died suddenly; he was 29. That jarring experience, paired with Lawrence’s exploration into Kandinsky’s works, inform Color Theory’s new kaleidoscopic disc, Contrasts (Posi-Tone).
Color Theory now showcases a slightly different lineup. Bassist Luques Curtis and pianist Zacchai Curtis replace Rast and Faulk, while David Gibson now handles the trombone part. The first half of Contrasts focuses on Lawrence’s impressions of Kandinsky works, such as the coruscating “Dominant Curve,” which is animated by a side-winding melody, and the Afro-Cuban inflected “In The Black Square,” which connects a 1923 Kandinsky painting of the same title with New Orleans’ historic Congo Square.
Contrast shifts focus midway toward more narrative songs with specific meanings. The rattling “Blues On The Bridge” was partially inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. The menacing “Gray” and the brooding ballad “Brown” pay homage to Freddie Gray (of Baltimore) and Michael Brown (of Ferguson, Missouri), two African Americans whose deaths at the hands of police sparked national outrage.
“It’s hard seeing injustices like that,” Lawrence said. “For someone to lose their life because they are in a systemic situation which they are born into, it’s hard to not let it affect you.”
Lawrence will tour throughout the year, including an Oct. 29 show at Dizzy’s in New York. DB
In addition to his work with Snarky Puppy, Martin freelanced as a keyboardist, producer and music director with prominent gospel and R&B musicians.
Aug 7, 2024 2:02 PM
Shaun Martin, a multifaceted, Grammy-winning pianist, keyboardist and producer who was best known for his work in the…
In addition to his instrumental prowess, Malone was praised for his musical generosity and his singular sense of humor.
Aug 27, 2024 12:09 PM
Guitarist and bandleader Russell Malone died Aug. 23, while on tour in Japan, after battling end-stage kidney failure.…
The June 19 Town Hall celebration of Michael Brecker was the culmination of the 10-night Peperoncino Jazz Festival.
Aug 7, 2024 2:03 PM
Although it’s been 17 years since tenor titan Michael Brecker passed away, the memories of his towering instrumental…
“I don’t focus on the harshness of the music business,” Lloyd says. “I focus on the profundity of what we’re doing because that’s the real stuff. You can change the world with that.”
Sep 4, 2024 1:29 PM
“To get this honor at this late stage, I suppose I’m blessed. I just know that this is a sacred song, and I’m in…
A concert of duets featuring trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and bassist Dave Holland was cerebral and unhurried at this year’s Montreal Jazz Festival.
Aug 13, 2024 11:52 AM
In its third edition since rebounding from senior management changes and COVID-related disruptions, the 44th Festival…
