Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Howard University Jazz Ensemble 2023: Nefertiti

Howard University Jazz Ensemble 2023: Nefertiti

By Jack Bowers
January 13, 2024
View read count

Howard University Jazz Ensemble 2023: Nefertiti

The Howard University Jazz Ensemble was formed almost half a century ago, in 1975, by Fred Irby III, its first—and, so far, only—music director. Every year since 1976, the ensemble has recorded and released an album to showcase its prowess and growth under Irby's baton.

This year's entry, Nefertiti, is a tribute to the legendary saxophonist

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter, many of whose compositions have become jazz standards, including the album's title song. Interestingly, Shorter, a twelve-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master who died in March 2023, never earned Howard University's annual

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson Jazz Master Award. This homage may help redress the oversight.

The sensuous "Nefertiti," which opens the album, is the only theme on the menu written by Shorter; the others are designed to exemplify his irrepressible spirit.

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton,

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk and

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver are represented, as are Stevie Wonder,

Antonio Adolfo

piano
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Adolfo, the Bee Gees, Irving Berlin and classical composer Erik Satie. "Portrait of a Breath" was written by a member of the ensemble, vibraphonist Sean MacCarthy-Grant.

Ron Horton

trumpet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Horton arranged half a dozen numbers, Rob Lussier arranged. Silver's "Pretty Eyes" and Berlin's "Remember,"

Mike Crotty

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Crotty Walton's "Hindsight."

Unlike most other albums by the ensemble, Nefertiti is long on beauty but low on heat and short on solos. Exceptions are "Hindsight," Monk's "Green Chimneys," the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" and Berlin's "Remember," normally played as a ballad but quickened by Lussier to let the ensemble shine behind trim solos by alto saxophonist

Langston Hughes II

saxophone
b.2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Langston Hughes II and guitarist

Kyle Rice

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Rice. "How Deep" closes the session in a swinging groove enhanced by pianist

Jason Woods Jr.

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Woods Jr.'s bright solo and forceful drumming by

Samuel Prather

piano and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Samuel Prather.

Trumpeter

Paul bailey

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul bailey delivers a couple of pleasing solos ("Hindsight," "Green Chimneys"), as do guitarist

Jackson Dunkin

guitar, electric
b.2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackson Dunkin ("Heart of Brazil," "Pretty Eyes"), tenor

Antonio Parker

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Parker ("Green Chimneys") and MacCarthy-Grant ("Pretty Eyes") who plays bongos and congas on the relatively moderate "Heart of Brazil." As this may well be the last recording supervised by Irby, who plans to step aside as director next year, it is good to note that the HUJE is as well-designed and proficient as ever, and Nefertiti is a quite pleasant way to say goodbye.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Nefertiti; Hindsight; Send One Your Love; Portrait of a Breath; Heart of Brazil; Green Chimneys; Gymnopedie #1; Pretty Eyes; Remember; How Deep Is Your Love.

Personnel

Fred Irby III

composer / conductor

Aaron Broadus

trumpet

Vernon Holmes III

trumpet

Paul bailey

trumpet

Jabril Muhammad

trumpet

Langston Hughes II

saxophone

Ma'Vaughn Martin

saxophone, alto

Hakim Bristow

saxophone, tenor

Antonio Parker

saxophone

David Onley

saxophone, baritone

Christopher Steele

trombone

Paul Phifer

trombone

Gregory Boyer

trombone

Timothy Johnson

trombone, bass

Alanah Butler

piano

Jason Woods Jr.

piano

Shomari Mbasi Hall

piano

Jackson Dunkin

guitar, electric

Kyle Rice

guitar, electric

Sean MacCarthy-Grant

vibraphone

Additional Instrumentation

Eliot Sepa: bass; Samuel Prather: drums.

Album information

Title: Nefertiti | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: HUJE

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Tom Griesgraber & Bert Lams: Don't L...
< Previous

Angelica Sanchez: Jazz Keys and Nigh...
Next >

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.