Christian Scott: Stretch Music (2015)

Christian Scott

Christian Scott has introduced an album and a concept called Stretch Music (Stretch Music, 2015) which might be described as music that is expressly not jazz but yet contains all the classic elements of jazz.

That idea is exemplified by the song West of West with the rock guitar of Matthew Stevens is a funky, danceable tune, but it has all the classic jazz elements of a recognizable beginning and end and an improvised middle.

Scott, also known as Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, opens the album Sunrise in Beijing which starts sounding like a daytime soap opera with a Lawrence Fields piano. It continues with some vigorous drumming by Corey Fonville, adding alto saxophone by Braxton Cook, and  flute by Elena Pinderhughes; and Christian Scott’s trumpet soars above it all!

The song Twin – Scott himself is a twin with an identical twin brother – features some African drums, a Caribbean steel pan and the horns of the New Orleans marching band.

Perspective has that West Coast, cool jazz feel. With Warren Wolf on vibes, it puts the listener in a relaxing mood. That mood continues later on, on the track Tantric.

Of a New Cool is a head-bobber with persistent drumming that advances the song with some soulful alto sax, piano and vibes.

Christian Scott, 32, is considered one of the bright, young minds in music. Originally from New Orleans, but having lived in both Los Angeles and New York, he is of good pedigree having attended the prestigious New Orleans Center of Creative Arts and Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He has actually put out over 10 albums and received a Grammy nomination for Rewind That (Concord, 2006).

He is married to Isadora Mendez and is currently enjoying great press for his latest album and on a grand European and Asian tour.

He has played with people like Esperanza Spalding and Prince. But the greatest tribute to Christian Scott is that when Marcus Miller was re-making the late Miles Davis’ Tutu album – Marcus wrote all but two songs on the album – he chose Christian Scott to play the role of Miles Davis on trumpet.

Track Listing, Personnel

1. Sunrise in Beijing

2. Twin

3. Perspectives

4. West of West

5. Liberation over Gangsterism

6. Corner

7. Of a New Cool

8. Runnin 7s

9. Tantric

10. The Last Chieftain

11. The Horizon

Christian Scott - Trumpet, Sirenette and Reverse Flugelhorn.

Elena Pinderhughes - Flute

Braxton Cook - Alto, Straight Alto

Corey King - Trombone

Cliff Hines - Guitar

Lawrence Fields – Piano, Fender Rhodes

Kris Funn – Bass

Corey Fonville ‒ Drums, SPD-SX pad (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Joe Dyson Jr. - Pan African Drums, SPD-SX (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Special Guests:

Matthew Stevens - Guitar (tracks 4, 5, 7, 10)

Warren Wolf - Vibes (tracks 3, 7)