Eleven O’Seven
Outside In, 2022
8/10
The rising trumpeter and bandleader Grace Fox makes quite an impression on this debut album, where a large cast of female musicians accompany her across the modern jazz listen.
“Right On Red” opens the listen with Kellin Hanas bringing soulful trumpet and Zhane Brown’s skilled trombone, as Bryana Crocket’s proficient drumming anchors the jazz exploration, and “Gospel Interlude” follows with Veronica Leahy’s stunning sax prowess adding much to the more subdued landscape.
In the middle, “I Just Found Out About Love” welcomes Alexis Fox’s smooth and expressive pipes to the timeless big band dynamic, while “Echelon” benefits from Jade Elliott’s emotive sax and Naomi Nakanishi’s intimate keys in the sublime album highlight.
“Sterility” and “Stars” round out the album, where the former uses Elliott’s absorbing brass amid the hypnotic and subdued delivery, and the latter showcases Sarah Hanahan’s elegant sax to complement Fox’s poetic and gentle singing that builds into fuller, big band adventurousness.
A powerful, fluid and timeless outing, Fox’s company comes from all across the country, and the diverse and accomplished skill they bring makes each song a bit different in scope, but always with much attention to detail and a whole lot of creativity present on this excellent starting point for Grace Fox.
Travels well with: Roxy Coss- Disparate Parts; The Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Chicago