Ode

Trumpeter Chris Kase is a luxury in a country, which for many years, has lacked a first-class representative of the jazz trumpet. He is a trumpet player who possesses a round, warm sonority which at times can even confuse the listener as to whether the trumpet or flugelhorn is the instrument being heard (or cornet, which is heard on the title tune). His sound is kind, never aggressive, and he moves with great agility in an ample range. His discipline as an instrumentalist is parallel to his discipline as a composer. His compositions are well thought-out, not mere excuses for improvisation Perhaps more important than the creation of a concise, sing-able melody is his capacity to create an ambience, a sonic palette that determines from beginning to end the expression of his music. In Chris' music lies an admirable unity and cohesion. © Carlos Pérez Cruz, elclubdejazz.com.