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Kerry Moffit: What Goes Around Comes Around

By Nicholas F. Mondello
July 28, 2021
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Kerry Moffit: What Goes Around Comes Around

The karmic reference of the subtitle of this recording gives the impression that there's a surprise lurking somewhere in trumpeter/composer/arranger

Kerry Moffit

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Kerry Moffit's jazz bag of tricks. The album, Moffit's first release after his spending decades starring in a U.S. Air Force band, is a superb presentation of jazz classics and originals. With this fine offering the perfect circle is formed—old and new, flowing in both directions.

Moffit and crew launch things tastefully vintage with a cool take on

Hank Mobley

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Mobley's "This I Dig of You." There the leader shrewdly digs all his playmates before launching into his own terrific improv. The rarely recorded

Shorty Rogers

trumpet
1924 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Shorty Rogers bouncer "Just a Few" is classic West Coast cool, offering a fine Terry Newman bass ride, Moffit aping

Clark Terry

trumpet
1920 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Clark Terry, and Rob Killips' noteworthy trombone, all soloing over Ian LeVine's boss brushes and Luther Allison's "cute" comps.

Woody Shaw

trumpet
1944 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Shaw's "Katrina Ballerina" and the overly recorded— but we love it so—"But Beautiful" complete the look into the rearview mirror.

The "new" here are intriguing originals from Moffit. From a compositional standpoint, he has vision, emotional depth, and taste. For example, "Life, Love Loss" is a dark, dramatic, lachrymose platform for Moffit's gorgeous flugelhorn and Ebersole's tenor. A fierce "10-4" drives a hard car chase and "M.L." is a cooker drawn from 1960s hot Blue Note "

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey seeds."

Moffit is a superbly inventive player with a terrific sound and great command. Improvisationally, he stylistically straddles classic bop lines with appealing modern ideas. His most interesting work on the session is the aptly-titled "Free for All," a free effort—and an album highlight—where all engage in a less constrictive soundscape.

The leader's savvy arrangements for the seven-man ensemble offer the gravitas of a big band with the flexibility of a smaller group. The members of the septet add marvelous energy throughout the session.

Turning Circles is an upbeat, swinging and all-around fine side. There are no squares or curds here. Mr. Moffit has found his way to offer a super-spinning wheel.

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Track Listing

This I Dig of You; Just a Few; Free for All; Katrina Ballerina; Life, Love, Loss ... Mvt. 2, Suite Lier; 10-4 Jam; M.L.; But Beautiful.

Personnel

Kerry Moffit

trumpet

Seth Ebersole

saxophone

Rob Killips

trombone

Altin Sencalar

trombone

Arlene Pritchard McDaniel

keyboards

Luther Allison

piano

Ian LeVine

drums

Terry Newman

bass, acoustic

Kerry Moffit: trumpet, flugelhorn; Seth Ebersole: alto and tenor saxophones; Rob Killips: trombone (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8); Altin Sencalar: trombone (3, 6), Arlene Pritchard McDaniel: Fender Rhodes piano, Casio Privia Keyboard (Track 1, 3, 4, 6, 8); Luther Allison: Fender Rhodes piano (Track 2, 5, 7); Terry Newman: acoustic bass; Ian LeVine: drums.

Album information

Title: What Goes Around Comes Around | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Turning Circles Music

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