1. The Secret Love Affair
2. Autumn Leaves
3. She’s Funny That Way
4. Sesame Street
5. I’m Confessin’
6. But Beautiful
7. Speak Low
8. Nancy
9. The Man With Two Left Feet
10. That Old Feeling
11. My Romance
12. If I Were a Bell
13. I Cover the Waterfront
Delfeayo Marsalis – Trombone
Ellis Marsalis – Piano
John Clayton – Bass
Marvin “Smitty” Smith – Drums
Herlin Riley – Tambourine, bass drum (track 4)
Imagine being the younger brother not only of a highly respected saxophonist but also of one of the most mightily
esteemed trumpeters in the world. The feeling of competition must hang heavily over the young sibling as he tries to make his name as a trombonist.
The trombonist in question is Delfeayo Marsalis, younger brother of Branford and Wynton Marsalis. On this album, Delfeayo doesn’t seem intent on competing
with the technical brilliance of his elder brothers. He sticks mainly to slow numbers rather than trying to produce flurries of notes in the style of J. J.
Johnson. Speak Low is one of the few up-tempo tunes on the CD, and Delfeayo doesn’t seem very comfortable at the quicker speed.
Delfeayo makes up for any limitations one may detect in his abilities by playing with a gorgeously sweet, mellow tone. It is as good as Tommy Dorsey at his
peak. On this album, Delfeayo is matched by his father, pianist Ellis Marsalis, whose style is understated, never assertive or showy. His playing seems to
reflect the wisdom of the paterfamilias of a consummately musical family.
The bass and drums of seasoned performers John Clayton and Marvin “Smitty” Smith respectively provide skilful accompaniment, although Marvin sometimes
seems to be kicking against the restraint of the recordings, apparently wanting to pep up the potency of such tracks as I’m Confessin’, where his
ill-advised attempts to push the beat don’t help the overall feel. But Beautiful also suffers from Smith’s over-enthusiastic drumming. Delfeayo
appears happiest when simply duetting with his father on I Cover the Waterfront, which includes a delightful stride piano solo by Ellis.
It may seem like sacrilege to criticize Delfeayo, a member of the honoured Marsalis family, but a reviewer has to tell it like it is. The flaws are
outweighed by the musicians’ enthusiastic approach to the material and Delfeayo’s dulcet tone. And the group’s joyful interpretation of Sesame Street (with Delfeayo on muted trombone, occasionally growling) could make a hit single.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Troubador Jass TJR 081814
