Theon Cross
Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York)
***and1/2 out of *****
While it may be slightly unusual for a tuba player to front a jazz band, Cross and his players, guitarist Nikos Ziarkas, drummer James Russell Sims, and saxophonist Isaiah Collier, lock in and deliver an engaging set. After an introduction and slow building shimmering start, the band drops "We Go Again", a swirling funky excursion that has flashes of hip-hop and R&B amongst the jazzy wanderings.
A few shorter unneeded placeholder tracks act as bridge between deeper numbers, allowing the quartet to ready themselves before the players dive off the deep end into their sounds. "Play To Win" is a soothing jam before Collier gets popping on sax in fun fashion and deep tuba blows signal it is time to kick it up a notch with chaotic jamming. "Wings" goes deep, pumping bass sounds while "Transcending" is meditative and ethereal until the guitar freak outs to end.
The title track is the best of the bunch here, spreading out over fourteen minutes with afro-beat inspired grooves and sweet sax work that feels like it could just keep flowing. Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York) is a long album but it saves some it's best offerings towards the end. "Radiation" deals in genre mashup goodness with funky as all get out passages, squirreling sounds and mega drumming while "Candance of Meroe" dips back into thundering Afrobeat with a galloping sound that makes heads bop and assess shake.
Album closer "Confidence In Your Ability" is a bit smoother but still manages to throw a few sonic curveballs with pumping tuba screeching strings and sax. Theon Cross and company let the groove guide them throughout Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York) a strong live capturing of their talents.
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