Music Review: Josh Lawrence Jazz 3's "Roots"

Twitter has been one of the best things to happen to me. A former coworker introduced me to the service almost three years ago. Initially, it was just a vehicle for work. For almost a year, I did not really take full advantage of it outside of job related projects.

I came back to Twitter about two years ago, looking to connect with other jazz fans. Boy, did I hit pay dirt! The jazz community was jumping! It still continues to grow on Twitter, and I'm continually exposed to legions of fans and musicians that under normal circumstances I would not be privy to. 

An example of this is trumpeter, Josh Lawrence. I'm at a loss for words as to how someone this talented flew under my radar, but I am extremely grateful that Twitter put him on it. As the leader of Josh Lawrence Jazz 3, he recently released his second studio album entitled "Roots". Joining him are Ken Pendergast on bass, Mike De Castro on the drums, and Mike Cemprola on the alto sax. Like Josh, all these musicians are new to me, and I am equally grateful to hear them play. 

Let's cut to the chase without any pretense, shall we? This album is incredible. How's that for being subtle? I originally received an mp3 version to review. But upon hearing it in its entirety, I quickly requested a higher quality version. This was something worthy of full lossless audio. I wanted to hear it without any compromise, just as the Josh Lawrence Jazz 3 intended. 

I fired up my hifi system and fed the WAV files to my Logitech Squeezebox Touch. While listening to the album, I had an uncontrollable ear to ear grin. Musically, this is what moves me. This style of jazz is something near and dear to my heart. Josh describes his sound as "Soul Bop". The sound is pure, unadulterated New York City and Philadelphia jazz. Something a Hard Bop fanatic like myself can appreciate. 

 I was initially blown away by “Roots”, but I wanted to pen my thoughts after listening to it over the course of a week. Subsequent listens were no less impressive than the first one. In fact, I appreciated it more. Equally inspiring about this album is that all the songs are original compositions. There are no standards here. A rarity in this day and age, since many jazz albums usually have at least one standard. This is not a complaint, I applaud it. I have no problems with standards, but original compositions showcase the creativity and dexterity of a musician in my opinion. 

The album kicks things off with the track "125th Street Intro", a funky cut that whets the listener's appetite. The next cut is "Queensborough Bridge Stomp", a fitting title for an album with such a strong NYC influence. If the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem was still around, this would have been a perfect fit for a night of stompin' at the savoy. 

"Jacob and Aaron" is a frenetic, up-tempo cut that doesn't relent from start to finish. I was tapping my feet and bopping my head the entire time. I uploaded the album to my iPod, and this song has the most listens. That says a lot, considering the quality of this album. I like the fact that it was sandwiched between "Northwest Extension" and "Someday Afternoon", which are a bit more low-key. This is followed up by "One for the Cats", which brings the tempo back up again. This is how you properly arrange songs. It's the type of pacing I wish more albums had. 

The next two cuts are "Sugar Hill Stroll" and "145th Street Outro". That's four songs out of nine with NYC infused into the song titles. In case you don't know, NYC is definitely a jazz town! 

Last, but certainly not least, is the song "Haitian Call and Cry", a beautiful song that exemplifies the strength and spirit of Haiti. In light of what is happening in Haiti today, I believe its best days lie ahead of her. When you're at the bottom, you can only rise up. The song plays like a beacon of hope. It’s a somber, yet uplifting finale to a wonderful album. Sonje Ayiti! 

To spell it out simply, "Roots" is one of the freshest albums I've heard in 2010. There is no filler here. All nine cuts can stand on their own merit. Collectively, it makes it a fantastic album. I implore you to purchase this album. You'll be glad that you did. You can purchase the album from Josh Lawrence's website in either CD or digital versions, which includes lossless audio formats. 

Let's keep fresh, innovative jazz like this alive.

Comments

[Josh]

Wow! Such kind, positive response. Thank you.

[Donna M]

Hi Josh!

You're welcome - I anticipate hearing more and more positive things about you, Ken Pendergast, Mike DeCastro and Mike Cemprola (collectively and individually)!

DM