By John McDonough | Published May 2022
The SFJAZZ Collective has paralleled the Lincoln Center orchestra in the sense that each has defined itself according to a body of historic and commissioned repertoire. But the Collective has limited itself more to the post-1960 age, whose inclusiveness continues to govern much of the contemporary jazz scene. That’s true of the program here. Each player composes or arranges a piece reflecting a current concern. The issues are what you’d expect — race, insurrection, climate, COVID — all very 20/20-ish, and some better than others.
The politics are aired more in the musicians’ program notes than in the music, which is not always what you’d expect. Edward Simon’s “8’46”” memorializes the George Floyd killing using Gretchen Parlato’s lovely wordless vocal in a surprisingly reflective, soft and lyrical bit of tone poetry. And the through-composed “Sower” by Matt Brewer seems oddly disconnected from the dystopian world of 2024, which is its inspiration.
Equally unlikely but more resourceful is Chris Potter’s tranquil, almost Third Stream remembrance of the failed election overthrow in which he camouflages patriotic quotes ninja-like in his skillfully drawn ensemble. (I couldn’t find them.)
Not all the pieces are original. Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away” is coupled with Max Roach’s 1960 “Freedom Day” by arranger/drummer Kendrick Scott in honor of their continuing consequence, which Parlato affirms. And Etienne Charles soothes the soul in Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” in favor of a nice jazz punch.
The longest of the pieces, “Ay Bendito,” is among the least composed but most open. Sánchez is a restless dynamo in his three-minute tenor oration. And man-of-many-faces
Chris Potter offers something of a virtuoso tenor tear himself on “Mutuality,” moving from an a cappella prologue to a raucous dialog with drummer Scott. Charles has some bracing trumpet space, too, but Parlato’s words are partly buried under a too-rich mix.
New Works Reflecting The Moment: Lift Every Voice; Vicissitude; Throw It Away; 8’46”; What’s Going On; The Sowor; Ay Bendito; Can You See; Mutuality; All There Inside; Already Died For Her. (75:47)
Personnel: Etienne Charles, trumpet; Chris Potter, David Sánchez, reeds; Edward Simon, piano; Matt Brewer, bass; Kendrick Scott, drums; Martin Luther McCoy, Gretchen Parlato, vocals.
Ordering Info: sfjazz.org
