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Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott East West Trumpet Summit: Coast to Coast

By Jack Bowers
July 31, 2023
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Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott East West Trumpet Summit: Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast is the third East West Trumpet Summit recorded by

Ray Vega

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Vega and

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Marriott in a musical partnership that has spanned nearly three decades. The years have been kind, and when it comes to playing persuasive jazz, neither Vega nor Marriott appears to have lost a step. Marriott, a native of Seattle, and Vega, New York-born and bred, first met in 1995, and the mutual admiration and respect was immediate. Their first two albums as co-leaders were exceptional, and Coast to Coast is no less so, with the front-liners in superior form and backed by a blue-chip rhythm section anchored by celebrated drummer

Roy McCurdy

drums
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy McCurdy with the always-dependable

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans on piano and rock-solid

Michael Glynn

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Glynn on bass.

In sum, the quintet plays engaging and listenable music that swings in the finest tradition of such renowned trumpet duos as

Fats Navarro

trumpet
1923 - 1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Navarro and

Howard McGhee

trumpet
1918 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Howard McGhee or

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard and

Woody Shaw

trumpet
1944 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Shaw. For the listener, that is about as good as it gets. The material is first-class too, with a trio of bright original compositions by Marriott interspersed among as many standards and good-natured themes by

George Cables

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">George Cables,

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry and

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus. The standards were penned by Carl Fischer ("You've Changed"), Wilbur Bird ("Broadway") and

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti ("Girl Talk").

Vega and Marriott give each of them a cheerful ride while Evans, Glynn and McCurdy make sure the rhythmic pulse never wavers. For listening purposes, the notes say that Marriott is heard stereo-left, Vega stereo-right, but that's largely irrelevant, as there is not much to choose between two masters whose approach to the music is by and large synchronous and complementary. No matter who is playing, the sound is luminous and clear, the ad-libs sharp and clever. The trumpets are open most of the way, muted on Marriott's charming, samba-like "Front Row Family."

Marriott's other compositions, "One Day at a Time" and "Quarter Nelson," are old-school swingers whose hustle and bustle brings out the best in everyone, as do the high-spirited "Broadway" and even

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus' "So Long Eric," which closes the album on a luminous and even-tempered note. The quintet has more fun on Cables' melodious "I Told You So" (nimble solo by Evans), Cherry's frisky "Art Deco" and Hefti's syrupy nod to idle chit-chat, "Girl Talk." "You've Changed," the only true ballad on the menu, is simply more grist for the quintet's efficiently run mill.

From start to finish, the third edition of East West Trumpet Summit is delightful to hear and appreciate, not only for Vega and Marriott's singular artistry but for the splendid choice of music and the indispensable support provided by an astute and responsive rhythm section. Notwithstanding the music's many detours, when placed in the best of hands straight-ahead jazz can be as inventive and pleasing as ever.

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Track Listing

One Day at a Time; I Told You So; You've Changed; Broadway; Art Deco; Girl Talk; Quarter Nelson; Front Row Family; So Long Eric.

Personnel

Thomas Marriott

trumpet

Ray Vega

trumpet

Orrin Evans

piano

Michael Glynn

bass, acoustic

Roy McCurdy

drums

Album information

Title: Coast to Coast | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Origin Records

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