Farmer 2015

BJ 4 starts off promising with a flugelhorn solo from the great Art Farmer, but the music soon sinks into pure commercialism. Bob James' keyboards are always prominent, as are the rather mechanical rhythms churned out by bassist Gary King, drummer Steve Gadd, and percussionist Ralph MacDonald. Although there are some catchy moments, the six selections (which all clock in between almost five and almost seven minutes) never seem to travel anywhere. Farmer, flutist Hubert Laws and guitarist Eric Gale have short solos that are primarily used as props and for contrast before James takes back complete control. The occasional strings and woodwinds make the light funk music here seem a bit Muzaky, so this is one to skip.

Adam O'Farrill - Stranger Days (2016) {Sunnyside SSC1450}
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© 2016 Sunnyside | SSC 1450
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Progressive Jazz / Trumpet

Stranger Days is the young trumpeter Adam O’Farrill’s official recording debut as a leader, but he’s been attracting notice from the jazz cognoscenti for a while. That’s thanks to his being featured on saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s acclaimed 2015 album, Bird Calls, as well as coleading the O’Farrill Brothers Band and working with the siblings’ father, pianist-bandleader Arturo O’Farrill. In the piano-less quartet on the new disc, Adam again is joined by drummer brother Zack O’Farrill, but the former clearly leads as chief provocateur.