Keep Searchin
Nothing if not eclectic, trombonist Steve Turre ranges from bop to blues to the experimental on the aptly titledKeep Searchin', while sidestepping convention through his use of vibraphonist Stefon Harris as his prime soloing partner. There are shades of Duke Ellington and Turre's mentor Rahsaan Roland Kirk, as well as salutes to trombone greats Curtis Fuller and Grachan Moncur III through compositions of theirs (the former's "Time Off" is played at full steam). As proficient as he is, Turre can be a little bland as a soloist and arranger when he allows his traditionalism to get the best of him. And though his employment of conch shells is confined to the opening and closing tracks, there is enough texture here--particularly with Turre's wife, Akua Dixon, adding her full-bodied baritone violin--to do without them. But the reteaming of Turre and Harris (who also play together on the latter's newAfrican Tarantella) yields dividends and the musicianship is never less than polished.--Lloyd Sachs--