The Baltimore Jazz Collective, a powerhouse ensemble of top-tier artists, will release its self-titled debut album on September 12 via Stricker Street Records. Supported by the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, the group brings together some of the most dynamic and respected voices in today’s jazz: trumpeter Sean Jones, bass clarinetist Todd Marcus, pianist Alex Brown, bassist Kris Funn, drummer Quincy Phillips, and singer, tap dancer, and interdisciplinary artist Brinae Ali.
Formed in 2019, the Collective is a celebration of Baltimore’s rich cultural legacy and creative spirit. Overflowing with swing, blues, and bold storytelling, the album features original works and striking arrangements from each member, painting vivid portraits of the city’s triumphs, struggles, and icons — from Eubie Blake and Baby Laurence to Gary Bartz and Baltimore Club pioneer Rod Lee.
“Musically, Baltimore is one of the most soulful cities, and you can’t really put the scene in a box,” says Jones, who also serves as the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair of Jazz Studies at Peabody. “Musicians here perform at the highest level. It’s really a one-of-a-kind place.”
The music reflects that ethos. Phillips’ arrangement of Cyrus Chestnut’s “Minor Swing” opens the album with a gospel-soaked pocket, while his own “Intercession” feels like a lost Blue Note gem. Brown’s three-part “Red-Lined” channels the spiritual urgency of hard bop, exploring Baltimore’s history of redlining and its unfulfilled promise of public transit. Funn’s contributions, including “Watermelon” and an inventive jazz take on Rod Lee’s “Dance My Pain Away,” root the album in the lived experiences of West Baltimore.
Marcus honors his influences with “Link to Lateef” and a medley of Gary Bartz compositions, while Ali reimagines Sisqó’s “Thong Song” as a commentary on exploitation, alongside “For Baby,” her tap-infused tribute to legendary dancer Baby Laurence. Jones contributes a luminous arrangement of Eubie Blake’s “Memories of You” and his own “Fleeting Stillness,” highlighting the group’s depth and emotional range.
The Baltimore Jazz Collective is more than a band — it is a statement about community, artistry, and the role of music in reflecting and shaping city life. “Baltimore’s jazz scene has always been steeped in the blues, a groove, and a feeling,” says Funn. “Performances are interactive experiences, where the artist and the audience are equally essential.”
With this debut, the Collective not only honors Baltimore’s past but also asserts its place as a driving force in the present. As Ali sums it up: “Baltimore is one of America’s epicenters for creativity and culture — without a doubt.”
Baltimore Jazz Collective arrives September 12 on Stricker Street Records.
No comments:
Post a Comment