Russell Gunn Smokin' Gunn CD

Following 1999's hip-hop/jazz foray Ethnomusicology, Vol. 1, trumpeter Russell Gunn returns to straight-ahead jazz on Smokin Gunn, where he's joined by altoist Bruce Williams, pianist Marc Cary, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Terreon Gully. Compositionally, there's a distinct flavor of early Wynton Marsalis in Gunn's originals. One hears the influence of the elder trumpeter in the bashing, blistering tempo of "Groid," the modal changes of "Amnesia," and "The Beeach," and the odd phrase lengths of "El's Kitchen." Gunn even pays direct tribute to Marsalis with a brief trio rendition of "Delfeayo's Dilemma," a track off of Black Codes (From the Underground). The presence of Eric Revis, Branford Marsalis's bassist of choice at the time of this recording, makes the Marsalis connection even stronger. Gunn opens and closes the album with bold strokes, beginning with excerpts from his "Freedom Suite" (not to be confused with Sonny Rollins's) and ending with the Coltrane masterpiece "Crescent." (It's particularly refreshing to hear a trumpeter tackle something so closely identified with a tenor player.) But Smokin Gunn, despite its many highlights, falls short of being a major individual statement. That said, it's a very good way to encounter the hard-edged and inventive piano playing of Marc Cary. And anything with Terreon Gully at the drums is bound to swing like crazy. ~ David R. Adler

Recorded at Tedesco Studios, Paramus, New Jersey on December 22, 1999. Includes liner notes by Paul de Barros.

Personnel: Russell Gunn (trumpet); Bruce Williams (alto saxophone); Marc Cary (piano); Eric Revis (bass); Terreon Gully (drums).

CMJ (8/7/00, p.40) - "...A straight-ahead album that's short on gimmicks and long on ferocious bop playing....songs simmer with a tense moodiness that makes for a truly engaging listen."
JazzTimes (5/01, pp.157-8) - "...Conventional hard bop....Gunn has good chops and flair as a soloist....[His] brightest playing comes on uptempo tunes....demonstrating he can tackle the established jazz menu..."