All Without Words: Variations Inspired By Loren
Tiger Turn, 2021
8/10
The multiple Grammy winner and trumpet extraordinaire John Daversa returns with his longtime friend and collaborator Justin Morell, as they craft a superbly textured orchestral jazz trumpet adventure that’s inspired by Morell’s autistic and non verbal son, Loren.
“Loren’s Theme” starts the listen with flowing strings as Daversa’s well timed trumpet adds much to the graceful, stirring mood, and “Searching But Never Finding” follows with strong, frisky percussion and bright brass as the adventurous landscape unfolds in an unpredictable nature.
Close the middle, “The Urgency Of Every Moment”, one of the album’s best, then displays profound talent in its timeless jazz climate, while “Walking In Our Own Footsteps/The Circle Game” trims the pace back with much prettiness imbedded in the cautious delivery that benefits much from Conrad Fok’s piano. “The Smallest Thing”, another track packed with subdued beauty, emits glowing strings that complement the gorgeous landscape.
Approaching the end, “Learning Simply To Be” lands in cinematic territory, as restraint and incredible interplay characterize the environment, and “It’s Enough To Be Here, Now” exits the listen steeped in orchestral ideas, where soaring dynamics and dreaminess are represented in spades.
The musicians present are culled from South Florida and showcase some of the areas brightest jazz and classical minds. Due to Covid, they all had to record their parts separately, but the unparalleled talent sounds like they’re all playing together, weaving in and out of the gamut of human emotion from joy to pain and everywhere in between on the soulful and intense effort.
Travels well with: Jeremy Monteiro Jay Anderson Lewis Nash- Live At No Black Tie Kuala Lumpur; Matt Panayides- Field Theory