Album DescriptionJason Marsalis returns after an eight-year absence with his leading debut on the vibraphone, called "the furthest-reaching and most compelling album of his career" by DownBeat. * It's been eight years, but Jason Marsalis has a new record out. Called Music Update, it is indeed an update on what he has been up to since his last release, Music in Motion. One thing that has not changed is his love for drums. Translation: the opening track is "Guess Who's Back?"--and the answer is "Discipline!"
* Includes brand new "Discipline" tracks, the drum-overdubbed solos found on Marsalis' previous CDs. "Discipline Vacations in Asia" is influenced by Japanese taiko drumming, while "Discipline Mellows Out" showcases the more romantic aspect the instrument. And finally, "Discipline Spotted Baby and Zutty at Studio 54" imagines a traditional New Orleans drummer getting down at the famous late '70s New York nightclub. Musically, it combines New Orleans traditional and second-line drumming with, of all things, disco!
* Marsalis is supported by a group of musicians he met at a residency at Florida State University: Austin Johnson on piano, Will Goble on bass, and David Potter on drums. "Music Update explodes from its first track, a short but intense drum number marked by a second-line beat-driven call to attention ... the disc survives repeated plays, and at just under an hour, its biggest drawback is that it's over too soon." -- DownBeat "The youngest musical Marsalis brother's `update' consists of his debut recording on vibes after nearly two decades of working and recording as a drummer. But Marsalis hedges his bet a bit, dangling five solo drum kit tracks around the eight quartet tracks on which he's playing vibes with a formidable trio of young musicians he met at a residency at Florida State University." -- JazzTimes
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1