Brian Lynch

DIGIPACK EDITION

DOWNBEAT 5 STARS
 

Brian Lynch’s Unsung Heroes honors the legacies of 10 underrated trumpet players. The series is more than a tribute; it’s an effort to preserve and perpetuate the bop legacy. Lynch, who performed and recorded in the final edition of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, exhibits a full sound, good range and a bop-inspired style. Unsung Heroes features his peers and proteges performing a trove of obscure compositions. The opener, Joe Gordon’s “Terra Firma Irma,” closely resembles Donald Byrd’s “Jeannine,” albeit with a distinct turnaround of descending chords—Lynch and his sidemen take full advantage. Lynch is also in fine form on his tune “Further Arrivals.” His intense solo on Tommy Turrentine’s “Big Red” provides a nice contrast to the track’s relaxed swing. But the album isn’t just about Lynch. Veteran alto player Vincent Herring and tenor player Alex Hoffman also pitch in. So does pianist Rob Schneiderman, an unheralded veteran whose resume includes work with J.J. Johnson and Art Farmer. The set closes with a fast reading of Louis Smith’s challenging “Wetu.” While releases like Unsung Heroes appear with some frequency, few sound as accomplished. - Eric Fine

PERSONNEL:

BRIAN LYNCH, trumpet, flugelhorn
VICENT HERRING, alto sax (special invited guest)
ALEX HOFFMAN, tenor sax
ROB SCHNEIDERMAN, piano
DAVID WONG, bass
PETE VAN NOSTRAND, drums
VICENTE "LITTLE JOHNNY" RIVERO, congas

Recorded at Knoop Studios, New Jersey, October 12 & 13, 2008 and December 22, 2009.

Tracks:

01.Terra Firma Irma
02.I Could Never Forget You
03.Further Arrivals
04.Saturday Afternoon At Four
05.Household Of Saud
06.Roditisamba
07.Big Red
08.Unsung Blues
09.Wetu