Freak In
Think ofMiles Davis'sIn a Silent Waysessions with an updated "jazztronic" treatment, and you'll get the vibe of this CD by the mercurial, Grammy-nominated trumpeter Dave Douglas. He's backed by a 21st-century combo featuring saxophonist-clarinetChris Speed, pianistCraig Taborn, and guitaristsMarc Ribotand Romero Lubambo, the turnabalist Jamie Saft, and tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake. They embark on a techno-tantric--yet textured--trip through electronica and blues, steered by Douglas's horn lines. The title track is a zestybhangra-bopped number sprinkled with remixer Karsh Kale's tablas, while "Eastern Parkway" swings with an industrial New Orleans sound. With taste and wit, Douglas manages to make even nonjazz sounds seem jazzy, something Miles Davis also did very well.--Eugene Holley Jr.