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The Justin Haynes Jazz Collective: In a Funk

By Jack Bowers
November 30, 2022
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In a Funk is the second recording as leader by Illinois-bred composer / arranger

Justin Haynes

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Justin Haynes, the first by his eighteen-member Jazz Collective. As was true of his debut album, Shoeless in Georgetown (2015), the most impressive cards are Haynes' splendid charts, ably performed by an ensemble of accomplished and purposeful musicians from the Chicago area.

Haynes wrote five of the session's enticing themes and arranged all of them, raising the curtain in a hard-swinging groove with the impulsive "La Tormenta," which features an unidentifed tenor soloist who it must be assumed is

Chip McNeill

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Chip McNeill, an alumnus of bands led by

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson,

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman and

Nat Adderley

trumpet
1931 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat Adderley, among others. While Haynes does name a trio of "featured soloists"—vocalist

Chrys Wilson

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Chrys Wilson, flutist Madeline Wood and violinist Haley Schricker— none of the Jazz Collective's several soloists is listed, although baritone saxophonist

Doug Stone

saxophone, tenor
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug Stone, pianist

Whitney Ashe

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Whitney Ashe, guitarist

George Turner

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">George Turner and bassist

Andy Crawford

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Crawford stand alone and need not be named.

As for those featured soloists, Wilson sings on Stevie Wonder's "Another Star," whose high point is its enticing rhythm, while Wood is heard (briefly) toward the end of the sensuous "Impressions of You" and Schricker not at all—at least, not clearly enough for one resolute listener's ears to discern. Meanwhile, McNeill (presumably) solos again on "In a Funk," with Stone, Ashe and an unlisted trumpet and trombone on

Paquito D'Rivera

clarinet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Paquito D'Rivera's delightful samba, "Chucho," with Stone and an unnamed alto on Haynes' soulful "Moth Man." Crawford's resonant bass leads the way on "The Quokka," and he solos with McNeill(?) and Turner on Haynes' tantalizing arrangement of the Brazilian standard "Tico Tico," introduced to American audiences by organist Ethel Smith in the 1942 Disney film Saludos Amigos.

The album includes a "bonus" number, Pat Metheny's "Have You Heard," which raises its running time to forty-three minutes. At the halfway point, the track fades out mid-note, then fades back in, as if the helmsman—in a funk?—reckoned, "Well, that's a wrap!," then realized, "Oh, there's more?" Moments later the track ends for good, again in mid-phrase. A somewhat shaky ending to what is in most other respects an admirable performance by Haynes and his Jazz Collective.

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Track Listing

La Tormenta; In a Funk; Another Star; Impressions of You; Chucho; Moth Man; The Quokka; Tico-Tico; Have You Heard.

Personnel

Justin Haynes

composer / conductor

Roger Ingram

trumpet

Barkey Bryant

trumpet

David Moore

trumpet

Matt Buczko

trumpet

Grace Calderon

saxophone, alto

Gabriel Sanchez Porras

saxophone

Chip McNeill

saxophone, tenor

Larry Harms

saxophone, tenor

Doug Stone

saxophone, tenor

Frank Niemeyer

trombone

Jeremiah St. John

trombone

Ben Carrasquillo

trombone, bass

Rich Dole

trombone, bass

George Turner

guitar

Whitney Ashe

piano

Andy Crawford

bass

Tom Marko

drums

Kevin Nichols

percussion

Chrys Wilson

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Madeline Wood: flute; Haley Schricker: violin.

Album information

Title: In a Funk | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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