Amazon.comTrumpeter Russell Gunn continues to forge his own voice with this concentrated session of straight-ahead jazz, mixing brash hard-bop fire with reflective depth. One of Gunn's marks of distinction is the evident influence of Booker Little, the brilliant trumpeter and composer who died at the age of 23 in 1961 (only some of the most thoughtful musicians, such as Kenny Wheeler and Dave Douglas, share this distinction). It's a pensive, keening lyricism that comes with a subtle pitch sense and a burnished sound that mixes the brassy and the slightly muffled. It's there in some of Gunn's writing as well, close-voiced, slightly dissonant pieces that can expand the sound of a quintet. The sound shows up in the unaccompanied opening to "The Freedom Suite," and it's even more apparent on "El's Kitchen." It's not imitation, but it's definitely a significant element in Gunn's voice, immediately distinguishing him from other Freddie Hubbard-influenced players. There's an admirable sense of concision here, too, Gunn's ability to make tight, declarative statements extending to his take on Wynton Marsalis's "Delfeayo's Dilemma," which is less than 3 minutes long with just bass and drums accompaniment. When he does stretch out, as on the extended quartet version of Coltrane's "Crescent," Gunn shows a developing command of musical architecture, finding his own path through the work of a master builder. Altoist Bruce Williams appears on five tracks, invoking serpentine furies on "Groid" and his own "Memory of Waterford." Pianist Marc Cary, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Terreon Gully aren't well-known names yet, but their familiarity with Gunn is apparent in the quality of their support. --Stuart Broomer
