Brilliance from Marcus Shelby and the MSJO
A. Claburn | San Francisco | 09/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marcus Shelby has created another devastating tour de force that rivals his seminal opus "Port Chicago" for sheer beauty and originality. In "Harriet Tubman" Mr. Shelby's artistic vision merges the dramatic history of a great African-American heroine with the history of jazz, reaching back to the music's origins in the African diaspora to create a powerful and moving musical/historical journey. The composer's vision is realized by a band of virtuosic talents that include Faye Carol as Harriet Tubman and vocal scat master Kenny Washington. The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra is one of the tightest jazz ensembles working today and they are in their full glory here with inventive solos from every section, notably Mike Olmos and Darren Johnston on trumpet, Gabe Eaton on alto sax, and Adam Shulman on piano. Buy this CD, and while you're at it, buy "Port Chicago" - no jazz collection can be complete without them."