Trumpeter
Russell Gunn remembers the breakup of a love affair on this CD, a nine-part suite. His writing recalls
Booker Little a bit, while his trumpet playing is closer to
Freddie Hubbard's. The first part of the suite is reasonably happy ("In the Beginning: Love") and then, in sections with titles such as "Deceit," "Psychosis" and "Torment," the music gets rather stormy and downbeat. The final part, "Acceptance," finds him finally coming to terms with the relationship's end. Fortunately, the music itself is not overly gloomy, with heated and sometimes intense soloing from altoist
Myron Walden, tenor-saxophonist
Mark Turner and the
McCoy Tyner-inspired pianist,
James Hurt, keeping the proceedings moving. Also on this date is
Greg Tardy (one appearance apiece on flute and tenor), vibraphonist
Stefon Harris, bassist
Eric Revis and drummer
Cindy Blackman. The ambitious project is successful (this was
Russell Gunn's best recording up to this point) although one wishes that there were some joyful sections to the suite too that remembered the glorious part of the romance. ~ Scott Yanow