Trumpet whiz Brian Lynch multiplies his talents again, times seven

 

Album review: Brian Lynch — 7 x 7 by 7 (Hollistic MusicWorks)

Trumpeter Brian Lynch knows and cherishes jazz history and his jazz story. His achievement is “a place in a lineage,” he comments. He opens his latest album with a warm, lovingly stylish tribute to a formative experience, winning a college jazz contest with his Wisconsin Conservatory of Music ensemble.  “In the Riv” references the Buick Riviera driven by Tony King, the genius educator (I studied with him, too) who led Brian and company long ago to a Notre Dame music competition his ensemble won gloriously.

One of Brian’s first regular professional gigs was playing as a front line fill-in for touring arists at the Milwaukee Jazz Gallery. I once saw him do a gig at a Milwaukree bar with bop sax giant Sonn Stitt. He would return later join bands led by Horace Silver, Phil Woods, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

The two-time Grammy winner is internationally acclaimed, but another sign of his local loyalty was picking Milwaukee-born saxophonist Greg Handy who absolutely shines throughout.

Tenor saxophonist Craig Handy (left ) and leader Brian Lynch in the studio, recording Lynch’s new album, 7 x 7 by 7.

“High Point of the Hang” turns up the Latin beat, a Lynch specialty, and Handy’s solo deeply digs the pocket while telling a wonderful short-short story. Part of the triplicate concept (seven tunes by seven musicians) is all tunes running seven minutes flat, a feat of recording studio manipulation. This contributes to concise solos throughout. Yet tempos and moods shift tastily, until Lynch takes a deep conceptual and temporal breath with “Greeting on 87th Street,” an ode to his lover. Lynch unfurls ardent tenderness and Handy ups the passion quotient with his tenor’s fiery soulfulness. Only a tenor sax can blaze like this. The other hidden star is pianist Luis Perdomo, who especially delivers late: on “Greeting” his pealing arpeggios and clangorous yet tender chords make the lover believe him.

Then on the closer, “Finnegan’s Garden,” an ode to Lynch’s pet dog, the pianist’s thick chords feel like their stroking fur then a sinuous melody sings joyously, an alluring sequence where a dog might just howl along.

Get 7x7by7 at Amazon here.

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This review was oriiginally published in The Shepherd Express, Here: https://shepherdexpress.com/music/album-reviews/7x7by7-by-brian-lynch/

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