Retreat To Beauty
Cellar, 2023
9/10
The New York City trumpeter Antoine Drye is aligned with 20+ musicians and the orchestrator Isaac Raz for these standards and originals that put a fresh coast of paint on a classic, orchestral jazz sound.
“Dada Takes Lilykenz To A Show!” opens the listen with a brief spoken introduction to the festivities, before “37” showcases Drye’s soulful trumpet playing amid Myron Walden’s dreamy flute and Alexandra Cook’s glowing French horn.
Further along, “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” radiates much warmth via Sullivan Fortner’s elegant keys and Drye’s expressive horn, while “Reflections” get quite intimate via the poetic trumpet, Donald Edwards’ gentle drums and Ben Wolf’s calm bass.
Near to the end, the hazy “Goodbye” flows with a rich, emotive quality that is nothing short of gripping, and “Image” continues the sophistication with John Ellis’ moody clarinet and Isaac Raz’s atmospheric piano adding a hint of mystery to the album’s best.
This is the 3rd installment of Drye’s Oblation series, and it continues the strong attention to detail and melodic structure of his previous work that makes each track luminous.
Travels well with: Jalen Baker- Be Still; Brad Turner Quintet- The Magnificent