Hunter, Stafford: Continuum

Born in Atlantic City, now residing in Philadelphia, Stafford Hunter is a Grammy nominated trombonist with four albums as a band leader, his latest being Continuum released in March, 2017. Here is another jazz musician who has escaped me until now.

Hunter and his band play modern jazz with one cheek firmly implanted in the past, taking these bop influences and reshaping them into something quite fresh and new. In other words nostalgia is never very far away as these songs brim with old school charm and the abundant melodies makes Continuum as tuneful as any jazz I have heard this year. For a brief over view of the first three tracks please read on. The disc begins with the title track, a light hearted affair with a breezy groove with excellent solos of trombone, soprano sax and piano. This is classy stuff with the solo parts never overreaching their welcome always staying within the confines of the song. The second track "The Outside Looking In" is a more bopping musical ride with searing sax and trombone work over a scintillating rhythm section. On the mellower "Lament" a sentimental mood is conveyed through lovely trombone as the drums subtly crash in the background. If you think you will dig these tracks it is safe to say you will enjoy Continuum very much. Tasteful in every sense of the word.

The Band:
Stafford Hunter (trombone and shells)
Todd Bashore (alto and soprano saxes)
Victor Gould (piano)
Luques Curtis (bass)
Vince Ector (drums)

Track Listing:
1. Continuum (8:06)
2. The Outside Looking In (6:21)
3. Lament (8:50)
4. Giant Steps (6:18)
5. A Walk in Bari (6:55)
6. Ector's Vector (9:06)
7. New Beginning (7:44)
8. Line in the Sand (6:03)

Added: December 19th 2017
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1498
Language: english

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