Search - :: Vibrainium

Chris Massey's Nue Jazz Project Takes Flight

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Massey plays drums. No statement could be more inadequate, though true, than that. Young Massey is a master craftsman, a highly respected performer, teacher, and composer, and now he adds to that spectrum the founder of an ensemble known as Chris Massey's Nue Jazz Project - and it is astounding. There is something about the manner in which Massey approaches his instrument that makes it seem like the ground base for big band sound. He apparently has stated that he is a modern drummer taught in the old tradition of swing, believing that he should put his sound underneath a fellow player and let the fire start to spread. This could almost be labeled an 'artist statement' in the way that painter's speak about their approach to the canvas. The result of Massey's gifts is evident in this fertile recording, called VIBRAINIUM - and for those who might not understand the derivation of the title, is is defined in the dictionary as follows: 'Vibranium is a fictional metal that appears in the Marvel Universe. It is most commonly known as one of the materials used to construct Captain America's shield.' And away we go into this 'nue jazz' concept.



Massey's ensemble, despite the big band sound it generates and resonates, is a quintet: Donald Malloy, trumpet, Bejamin Drazen, astonishing on both alto and soprano sax, Evgeny Lebedev, piano, David Ostrem, bass, and of course Chris Massey, drums. A more polished group of musicians would be difficult to find as each one is fully in charge of the individually exposed riffs. The musical works? Well, combine Massey's own three original works ('Galactus' - echoing the title of the album, 'Change', and the title song 'Vibrainium'- an otherworldly graceful melody supported by some rich blooded underflow) - and fill out the album are 'Inner Urge' by Joe Henderson, 'Smooth' by trumpeter Malloy, 'Windows' by Chick Corea, and 'Mr. Twilight' by the groups sax player Drazen. It is a terrific 'concert', the recorded sound is first rate, and the sound created by these gifted musicians is unique and not likely to go unnoticed for long - now that this album is released. Pay attention to this one! Grady Harp, August 10"