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Jordan VanHemert: Deep in the Soil

By Jack Bowers
September 1, 2024
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Energy and enthusiasm fairly leap from the speakers—or headphones—on

Sharel Cassity

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Sharel Cassity's daring "Call to Order," the opening number on Korean-born saxophonist

Jordan VanHemert

saxophone
b.1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Jordan VanHemert's fifth album as leader, Deep in the Soil. Alas, that same ardor doesn't reappear until track seven (of eight), trombonist

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Dease's boppish "ST in the House." In between, VanHemert and his companions (group sizes vary from sextet to duo) offer some agreeable music but nothing that approaches the ebullience or cogency of the themes already named.

It may (or may not) be coincidental that trumpeter

Terell Stafford

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Terell Stafford is present and solos impressively on "Call" and "ST," as he does on the charming finale, his own "Blues for JT." Whatever the reason, everything seems a tad more engaging when he is on the scene. That is not to say that VanHemert and the others are less than proficient; far from it. VanHemert is a splendid soloist, as are Dease (who solos only once) and pianist

Helen Sung

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Helen Sung, while bassist

Rodney Whitaker

bass
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Rodney Whitaker and drummer

Lewis Nash

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Lewis Nash keep the rhythm flowing as smoothly as any duo you would care to name.

VanHemert, who usually plays tenor saxophone, sets it aside here in favor of the alto, a tribute, he says, to his earliest jazz influence, the legendary

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker—although there is more

Cannonball Adderley

saxophone
1928 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Cannonball Adderley,

Lou Donaldson

saxophone
1926 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Lou Donaldson or

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean in his post-bop style than there is Bird. Stafford and Dease are in or out on various tracks, while Sung is ever-present—including a duo with VanHemert on his graceful "Autumn Song," the only number on which Whitaker and Lewis are not on board. The Adderley connection is most apparent on

PAUL MITCHELL

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">PAUL MITCHELL's gritty "Hard Times," the best-known version of which was rendered by another renowned alto master,

David "Fathead" Newman

saxophone, tenor
1933 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">David "Fathead" Newman.

Jimmy Heath

saxophone, tenor
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Heath wrote the congenial "Sound for Sore Ears,"

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder the easygoing "Superwoman," while VanHemert contributed the cordial ballad "Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same." Although every theme is respectable, "Call to Order" sets the bar quite high, devaluing everything that follows. Unfair, perhaps, but no less true. Even so, a well-played and well-above average session with much to admire.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Call to Order; Sound for Sore Ears; Hard Times; Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same; Superwoman; Autumn Song; ST in the House; Blues for JT.

Personnel

Jordan VanHemert

saxophone

Terell Stafford

trumpet

Michael Dease

trombone

Helen Sung

piano

Rodney Whitaker

bass

Lewis Nash

drums

Album information

Title: Deep in the Soil | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Origin Records

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