Overcoming the challenges of the present has always been the artist’s charge. Today’s crop of emerging artists face a unique set of hurdles, but with enough talent and dedication, some fly above and achieve heights that sustain our cultural vibrancy. Exhibit A: Nu Yo.
An exciting new entry to the composer/arranger/player category is trombonist Yoav Trifman. He presents to us a menu of nine songs featuring original works, innovative arrangements, top-level improvisation, and a groove that swings. The leader sees this set of world premieres recorded in New York City as a jazz message in a bottle: “I wanted to play my best so that I’d have an accurate memory of this specific time.”
At age 24, Trifman has acquired wisdoms both artistic and practical. He carries the player-leader duties with passion and urgency. His writing is compelling and intentional, evoking Dameron, Strayhorn, Monk, Mingus. But these are new sounds: 2018 sounds.
Unleashing a repertoire that stylistically combines new and old also requires skill in building a team. The core rhythm section provides the required energetic punch to drive the listener through these nine selections and want more. Guitar prodigy Félix Lemerle effortlessly switches between shining on his solos and returning to his supportive rhythmic and harmonic duties of comping. Jamale Davis is a powerhouse of pulse who skillfully evades cliché. Drummer Scott Lowrie could land smack in the middle of a vintage recording of the 1950s – if that were possible. However, this group isn’t in the business of looking backward. They are here to stay, with many more groundbreaking projects ahead of them.
Trifman’s front line balances today’s top emerging and veteran players. The young Italian tenor saxophonist Salvo Losappio, who memorized all of his music for the session, brings thoughtful and inspiring soloing. Also from Italy is Stefano Doglioni, an artist on a mission to retroactively include the bass clarinet as a defining component of the classic jazz sound. Journeymen John Mosca and Don Hahn complement the younger players on trombone and trumpet respectively. Each horn player is given a chance to shine, with tremendous results.
Yoav Trifman shows accelerated maturity in knowing what to control and what to allow to happen. His tightly-woven arrangements are unpredictably presented, but the group sound is defined by the nature of each individual.
Yoav Trifman trombone & euphonium (#4 & 5)
Salvo Losappio tenor sax (#1-3 & 5-9)
Stefano Doglioni bass clarinet (#1-3, 6, 8 & 9)
Felix Lemerle guitar
Jamale Davis bass
Scott Lowrie drums
Don Hahn cornet (#4 & 5)
John Mosca trombone (#4 & 8)
1. Uws 4:33
2. Blues for Allison 5:24
3. Indefinite Plans 5:53
4. The Fruit 7:14
5. Melody for C 4:21
6. Mosca-Ism 3:22
7. Humble Hampton 3:19
8. Too Early 4:36
9. Luminescence 5:07
