Orbert Davis -- Priority

Orbert Davis

Priority

3Sixteen Records CD31601

Orbert Davis, trumpet, flugel horn; Ari Brown, tenor sax; Ryan Cohan, piano; James Cammack, bass; Ernie Adams, drums; Kurt Elling, vocal; Bobbi Wilsyn, vocal; Pat Ferreri, guitar; Steve Berry, trombone; Zachary Brock, violin.

The moment the first track "Priority" kicks in with an immediate head of steam you know that Orbert Davis is something special. He writes seven of the twelve tracks in (surprisingly) only his second CD as leader; taking us on a pleasure ride through blues, ballads , funk and a touch of Dixieland. His articulate, full bodied and beautiful tone can be punchy, sensitive or downright emotional; whether playing trumpet or flugel horn his soaring flights of fancy enthrall and soft interpretations engage the heart. Add to this the piano playing of his long time friend Ryan Cohan, the raunchy tenor sax of Ari Brown, the fine rhythm playing of James Cammack on bass and Ernie Adams on drums and we have a very fine CD.

There are other delights; although Bobbi Wilsyn sings on only one track "Midnight in Bahia", one is grateful for it. The violin of Zachary Brock also makes one appearance in "Vice-Versa", there is great conversational interplay between trumpet and violin, the violin matching the trumpet at every turn; I do hope his instrument is well insured. The CD is delightfully rounded off with trumpet and piano playing Louis Armstrong's "Weather bird" in an uplifting Dixieland.

It would be an affront to Jazz if this man does not make more CDs, the sooner the better.

by Ferdinand Maylin

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