Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jason Marsalis: Music Update

Jason Marsalis: Music Update

By J Hunter
October 8, 2009
View read count

It's not like

Jason Marsalis

vibraphone
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Marsalis has been invisible since he released Music in Motion (Basin Street, 2002); his name's just been on the back of CD booklets instead of the front. With Music Update, Marsalis is back at the top of the bill, except he's brought a different set of sticks with him, or more specifically, a new set of mallets.

Well, not completely new, it seems Marsalis began experimenting with the vibraphone as a primary instrument about eight years ago, and has been working on a vibes-centered group concept for some time. That group came together when he met pianist Austin Johnson, bassist

Will Goble

bass, acoustic
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Goble, and drummer David Potter during a residency at Florida State University. Given that most of the pieces on Update were penned by Marsalis, any thoughts that this might be a "gadget CD" or a one-off caprice, can be shelved right away.

"Guess Who's Back" picks up a running feature on Motion: Marsalis is behind his "old" kit, and thanks to the miracle of multi-tracking, he becomes a one-man drum corps, exploring all possibilities of a single establishing figure. "Guess" is the first track of (for lack of a better title) "The Discipline Suite," as Marsalis works through several similar "solo" spots where his drumming is influenced by musical schools ranging from New Orleans Second Line and Japanese Taiko to—of all things—disco!

Fortunately, the last school doesn't come up until the last track. What follows "Guess" is the aptly-titled "Offbeat Personality," a track that alternates between swinging and foreboding, as Marsalis and his partners jump through multiple time signatures while putting down some pretty sweet sounds. Some of the changes are pretty intricate (an interesting choice, given that Marsalis' vibes work is relatively rudimentary), but the quartet hits every one perfectly. The music may not always be riveting, but the group dynamic on Update certainly touches that quality.

While Marsalis gives big props to vibes legend

Lionel Hampton

vibraphone
1908 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Hampton with loving covers of Hampton's "Midnight Sun" and

Charlie Christian

guitar, electric
1916 - 1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Christian's "Seven Come Eleven," the overall sound on the recording is more reminiscent of the

Modern Jazz Quartet

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Modern Jazz Quartet. Johnson makes a fine

John Lewis

piano
1920 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lewis to Marsalis'

Milt Jackson

vibraphone
1923 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Milt Jackson, each of them putting significant content into a sound that has been unfairly dismissed as "too cool." In many ways, Johnson is the superior soloist, which he demonstrates on "Blues for the 29%ers," but this can be chalked up to Marsalis speaking in what amounts to a second language. When the two work hand- in-glove on "Ballet Class" and

Toninho Horta

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Toninho Horta's "Durango Kid," it's nothing but beautiful.

Music Update doesn't break much new ground, but it must be seen to inspire tracks on "The Discipline Suite"—an establishing figure. What direction Marsalis takes with that figure will determine whether he can work outside the comfort zone he has created. Given his compositional skill and the potential he shows on his "new" instrument, this could get interesting.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Guess Who's Back; Offbeat Personality; Ballet Class; Discipline returns Once Again; Characters; Blues for the 29%ers (down to 18%); Discipline Vacations in Asia; Midnight Sun; Seven Come Eleven; Discipline Mellows Out; Durango kid; Western Vacation Ranch; Discipline Spotted Baby and Zutty at Studio 54.

Personnel

Jason Marsalis

vibraphone

Jason Marsalis: vibes, drum (1, 4, 7, 10, 13); Austin Johnson: piano; Will Goble: bass; David Potter: drums.

Album information

Title: Music Update | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: ELM Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Allan Holdsworth Trio: Gatineau, Can...
< Previous

Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Hor...
Next >

Jason Marsalis Concerts

Nov 1 Sat

Jason Marsalis And Nicole Henry

Riverview Performing Arts Center
Sarasota, FL

Nov 21 Fri

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Nov 22 Sat

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Nov 23 Sun

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.