Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch

Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch

By Jack Bowers
May 1, 2014
View read count

Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch

New York-based pianist / composer (and two-time Grammy Award nominee)

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans served notice with his first big-band album for Posi-Tone Records that there was an impressive new ensemble on the scene, a message that is firmly underscored by the second, the cryptically named Mother's Touch, whose tone and temperament mirror Evans' contemporary point of view.

Evans wrote six of the album's nine numbers, the first of which, the gospel-flavored "In My Soul," kick-starts the session with righteous vigor underpinning solos to match by Evans and tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland who switches to soprano for another trenchant statement on Evans' colorful "Explain It to Me." The leader steps aside in favor of pianist Zaccai Curtis on "Mother's Touch," a seemingly unrelated two-part suite whose total playing time is roughly four minutes. Tenor

Stacy Dillard

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Stacy Dillard, trombonist

David Gibson

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">David Gibson and trumpeter

Tatum Greenblatt

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Tatum Greenblatt add solos on Part I, Strickland (tenor) and baritone

Mark Allen

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Allen on Part II. The album's lone ballad, "Dita (for Karyn Warren)," is a charming showpiece for Evans and alto

Todd Bashore

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Todd Bashore.

Donald Edwards

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Edwards composed and Bashore arranged the lively "Tickle," which precedes

Eric Revis

bass
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Revis' supple "Maestra" and

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's frolicsome "Water Babies." Tenor

Victor North

saxophone, tenor
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor North and trumpeter

Fabio Morgera

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Fabio Morgera share solo space on "Maestra," Dillard and Greenblatt (also the arranger) on "Water Babies." The spirit is far removed from reverential on Evans' buoyant finale, "Prayer for Columbine," whose glossy tone abets elastic solos by Allen, Dillard, trombonist

Conrad Herwig

trombone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Conrad Herwig and alto

Tim Green

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Green. It's a pity that Evans doesn't solo more often, as he is a daring yet good-natured stylist in the manner of

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner,

Roger Kellaway

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Roger Kellaway and one of his mentors,

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron. He seems, however, content for the most part to play a supporting role and let the ensemble take the lion's share of the bows and applause.

Be that as it may, Evans' purposeful imprint is all over the album, as it was on the band's inaugural recording some three years ago. He is Captain Black, and the ensemble is an extension of his perceptive musical philosophy and personality.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

In My Soul; Explain It To Me; Mother��s Touch Part I; Dita; Tickle; Maestra; Water Babies; Mother��s Touch Part II; Prayer For Columbine.

Personnel

Orrin Evans

piano

Tanya Darby: trumpet; Duane Eubanks: trumpet; Tatum Greenblatt: trumpet; Brian Kilpatrick: trumpet; Fabio Morgera: trumpet; Mark Allen: saxophone; Todd Bashore: saxophone; Dog Dehays: saxophone; Stacy Dillard: saxophone; Tim Green: saxophone; Victor North: saxophone; Marcus Strickland: saxophone; David Gibson: trombone; Conrad Herwig: trombone; Andy Hunter: trombone; Stafford Hunter: trombone; Brent White: trombone; Orrin Evans: piano; Zaccai Curtis: piano (3,8); Luques Curtis: bass; Anwar Marshall: drums; Ralph Peterson: drums (2). Additional arrangements by: Todd Bashore, Todd Marcus, David Gibson, and Gianluca Renzi.

Album information

Title: Mother's Touch | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Strive!
< Previous

Kissing Cousins: Jazz + poetry = jaz...
Next >

Orrin Evans Concerts

Oct 8 Wed