One might assume that bassist
Christian McBride's CD
Kind of Brown would be a tribute to
Ray Brown. Au contraire -- in fact, it would be appropriate for this recording to own up to the title Kind of Blue Note, because this music bears a strong resemblance to the late-'60s to mid-'70s recordings of the legendary
Bobby Hutcherson-
Harold Land quintet. That seminal post-bop ensemble defined the mid-period Blue Note label sound, and created resonant sonic signposts that remained unequaled, until now. A new discovery in vibraphonist
Warren Wolf, Jr., teamed with veteran saxophonist
Steve Wilson, the wonderful pianist
Eric Reed, and drummer
Carl Allen makes
McBride's quintet dubbed
Inside Straight into one of the more melodically tuneful and harmonically focused contemporary ensembles combining past tradition with a fresh new approach to this potent style of jazz.
McBride is almost an equal in this company, putting aside his furious note playing for a more democratic role in this extraordinarily balanced small combo. The similarities to the
Hutcherson-
Land group are unmistakable, from the tick-tock rhythm and melodic line similar to
Hutch and
Herbie Hancock's classic composition "Blow Up" on "Brother Mister" to the steady swinger "Rainbow Wheel" and "Pursuit of Peace," with its probing basslines via
McBride and perfectly fitted hand-in-glove melody and unison approach. The athletic and quirky "Stick and Move" is hard-charging bop at its best with
Reed leading; soul-jazz is adopted during the waltz "Used 'ta Could" in parallel to the standard "Better Than Anything"; while "The Shade of the Cedar Tree" (for
Cedar Walton) is again similar to what
Walton and
Hutcherson did with the Timeless All Stars, and close to
Walton's tune "Hindsight."
McBride's role as a leader is more pronounced on "Theme for Kareem," an ultra-tight, very hip tune that has potential standard written all over it.
Wilson concentrates on alto sax, but plays a bit of soprano on the recording for the waltz-to-samba "Starbeam";
McBride restrains his inclination to play a multiplicity of notes; and
Wolf proves to be a new artist to keep a close watch on in the next decade. While
Christian McBride has been involved with many amazing recordings during his brief but substantive career, this might be his best batch yet. ~ Michael G. Nastos