Kendall Moore is a jazz trombonist, composer and arranger from Chicago, and if his debut recording is anything to go by, is a name to watch out for. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in jazz performance at the University of Miami, but has already performed with the likes of McCoy Tyner and Ahmad Jamal, and a wealth of other artists as part of the Henry Mancini Institute studio Orchestra. Moore’s arrangements have also attracted attention, winning him the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award in 2009.
His debut CD, Focus, is performed by his Ensemble, which comprises of Mark Small on tenor and soprano saxophone, Tim Jago on guitar, Angelo Versace on piano, Gary Thomas on bass and Michael Piolet on drums. The band is augmented on three of the eight tracks by Marquis Hill on trumpet and Pat Seymour on alto saxophone.
The CD opens with a stunning reworking of the Bill Evans/Miles Davis standard, Blue in Green. In reworking the tune, Moore found himself drawn to the lushness of the chords, the symmetry of the melody, and in particular, the sense of falling in the first phrase. The arrangement is quite intriguing, from the opening guitar and handclaps to the careful use of space, which allows plenty of room for the musicians to play off one another. Moore takes the lead, his warm, rich tone a delight, before Tim Jago takes over with an elegant guitar solo. Another standard brings the album to a close; this time, a superb, stripped back version of the Van Heusen classic, It Could Happen To You, with only bass and drums for support.
Kendall’s own compositions are noteworthy, too. The title track has a Latin-tinge and a memorable hook. Piolet’s drumming is particularly noteworthy, vibrant and inventive, but never intrusive, whilst Mark Small’s solo is also well conceived. The pace slows for Peaceful, which has a reflective, late-night feel to it, anchored by the warm tone of Thomas’s bass.
The larger ensemble assembles for Finding Purpose, again showcasing Moore’s arrangement skills to good effect. The Road Less Travelled is less compelling, however, the tune rather less memorable.
It’s good to see Focus credited to the Ensemble, because Moore has clearly assembled a first-rate band, perfectly attuned to his ideas, and it would be good to hear them work together again. Focus is an impressive debut from a bandleader you can expect to hear from again in the near future.