Monterey 2009: Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
The Monterey Jazz Festival was a Northern California homecoming for Ambrose Akinmusire, who blazed into the spotlight by winning the Thelonious Monk Institute’s trumpet competition in 2007. Akinmusire has spent the intervening years establishing his name as a vanguard player on the New York scene, and he brought a powerhouse quintet to the festival’s “Night Club” room on Saturday night.
The set was too short at 45 minutes but bristled with intensity, featuring compelling postbop compositions that wound intricately around the bandstand, marked by unexpected leaps, shadowy harmony and edgy, skipping rhythms. These were tunes that invited the audience to fall inand lose themselves, and many did — turnover in the capacity crowd seemed to be somewhat lighter than in most festival shows.
Every member of the band was a name to watch. Akinmusire led with a direct, narrow tone that became a razzing bray when he stabbed out for emphasis. Stringing together chattering bursts at some times, using space to his advantage at others, he stood with the poise and confidence of a master.
Tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III turned in restless, filigreed lines that were incendiary on the faster numbers, inward-facing and melancholy at slower tempos. Gerald Clayton brought a sensitive touch to the piano, skirting the edges as if probing for an opening, then moving in with gentle breezes and firm gusts. Justin Brown was a tremendous listener behind the drum kit, shaping his complex rhythms to match every nuance from his bandmates — he seemed particularly well attuned to Clayton. And bassist Harish Raghavan tendered each note with stern conviction, playing no more than was absolutely essential but unerringly choosing exactly the right tones to deepen and enhance the mood.
It was over much too quickly, but these young players packed a lot of substance into the short time.
CORRECTION: This piece originally misidentified the drummer, who was Justin Brown. Jazz Observer regrets the error.
Filed Under: MJF/52 - 2009 • Monterey Jazz Festival
Sounds like you had a busy night. Bring on the caffeine.
Caffeine indeed… Probably two more shows still ahead before I call it a night…