Number Five

Harrell's fifth album, with his working unit of over six years, featuring Wayne Escoffery, Danny Grissett, Ugonna Okegwo, and Johnathan Blake. "This album will differ from the other Highnote releases with my quintet, in that we play in different configurations - a capella trumpet, trumpet/drum duo, trumpet/sax/bass trio, etc. We also play some pieces by other composers, which is something I have not done on my own albums for a long time." says Harrell. Tom Harrell is one of the world's most respected jazz trumpeters and composers. His original works achieve that rare balance between intricacy and musicality, being at once intellectually engaging and emotionally satisfying. Tom s trumpet and flugelhorn playing could be called an art that conceals art; marked with a shrewd lyricism and sensitive tone that argues against technique for technique's sake, high note grandstanding or oblique reference. In realizing this musical vision, Harrell has surrounded himself with like minded players and it is this, his working band, that has appeared unchanged on all five of his HighNote recordings. The result is a comfort level that approaches musical symbiosis which is rare in jazz today and a recording which is much more than another entry in an already impressive discography, but an event.

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