Blues And Cubes
Flying Horse, 2022
8/10
This 4th album from The Jazz Professors takes inspiration from the art of Pablo Picasso, and brings us 8 originals and 2 covers that are carefully fleshed out by Jeff Rupert (sax), Dan Miller (trumpet), Per Danielsson (piano), Bobby Koelble (guitar) Richard Drexler (bass) and Marty Morell (percussion).
“Blue Lamp” gets the listen off to a cozy start, where the soothing sax is met with warm keys and flashes of trumpet bouts, and “Dora Maar” follows with a lively pulse that benefits much from frisky percussion and skilled bass lines as Rupert’s soulful sax guides the affair.
“Segment”, by Charlie Parker, lands in the middle, and radiates a graceful intimacy that showcases agile guitar work, while “View Of Heaven” flows with a dreamy, poetic demeanor that’s quite stirring.
Close to the end, “Picasso’s Blue Lobster” offers a rich and very absorbing display of cautiousness that’s the album’s best, and “The Iberian” exits the listen busy and dynamic, with the proficient rhythm section complementing Rupert’s inimitable brass prowess.
All the members have impressive resumes of their own, and their collective strength makes for a fine and exciting display of 20th century jazz that’s as unpredictable as it is memorable.
Travels well with: Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats; Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia