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8-panel Digipak Album
“Quite simply, COLORS FOR THE MASTERS is easily one of Turre’s best releases in years. ”
— C. Andrew Hovan, All About Jazz, 6 August 2016
“This is the kind of music that makes you fall in love with jazz over and over.”
— George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly, 22 August 2016
“Responsible for some of the most creative and engaging trombone-led jazz sessions of recent vintage.”
— Phillip Booth, JazzTimes, 25 April 2019
#1 JazzWeek radio chart (3 weeks)
***
Steve Turre shows off his full spectrum of sounds on COLORS FOR THE MASTERS. The album’s ten songs, evenly split between jazz standards and original tunes that carry the torch for the tradition, offer a dazzling array of hues played in tribute to and alongside some of the elders that have inspired Turre. The leader’s own trombone virtuosity is only one color in a palette that also includes a variety of mutes and his wholly original conch shell artistry.
COLORS FOR THE MASTERS teams Turre’s exquisite trombone with a rhythm section of legendary elders, each of whom shaped the trombonist’s distinctive voice: pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Jimmy Cobb. On four tunes, the band is joined by saxophonist Javon Jackson, like Turre, an alumnus of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; and for the album’s final tune, a stirring rendition of Jobim’s “Corcovado” on which Turre shows off his innovative shell playing, virtuoso percussionist Cyro Baptista also joins in. Together, they pay electrifying homage to other, departed luminaries like John Coltrane, J.J. Johnson, and Thelonious Monk.
While he has shared the stage with each of them over the years in various bands and all-star configurations, he says, “I’ve never had them play my music. I wanted to hear how their interpretations would open up new avenues of expression to me. I’m still trying to grow. I have a certain feeling and a certain direction in mind, and everybody on this record is in the same frame of mind about what jazz is and what this music means to them.”
released August 26, 2016
Steve Turre – trombone and shells
Kenny Barron – piano
Ron Carter – bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums
Javon Jackson – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 4 & 6)
Cyro Baptista – percussion (track 10)
Recorded Live February 25, 2016 at Avatar Studio A, New York City
Produced by Paul Stache
Associate Producer: Damon Smith
Recorded by Chris Allen
Studio Assistant: Thom Beemer
Mixed by Paul Stache & Ted Tuthill
Mastered by Randy Merrill
Photography by John Abbott
Liner Notes by Todd Barkan
Design by Damon Smith & Paul Stache
Kenny Barron appears courtesy of Impulse!
Piano courtesy of Steinway & Sons
Steve Turre plays Yamaha trombones exclusively
Executive Producers: Frank Christopher & Paul Stache
