October 7, 2024

https://jazzbluesnews.com

Website about Jazz and Blues

CD review: JD Allen – Barracoon 2019: Video, CD cover

JD Allen’s eighth recording for Savant Records finds the wildly inventive saxophonist returning to the sax-bass-drums format playing with his usual sizzling intensity and unveiling new works which challenge preconceptions while engaging the listeners rather than alienating them.

His colleagues, Ian Kenselaar and Nic Cacioppo are with him every step of the way, reveling in the exploratory compositions of their leader and rising to the challenges they bring.

JD Allen was hailed by New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff as, “a tenor saxophonist with an enigmatic, elegant and hard-driving style,” He has be the winner of Downbeat, JazzTimes, JBN & NPR polls in categories including NPR’s Best Jazz of the Year, Tenor Saxophonist of the Year, Composer of the Year and Rising Star of the Year.

Following up on 2016’s ground-breaking album, AMERICANA, BARRACOON (a lean-to or barracks to confine slaves) reflects Allen’s awareness of the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of unwilling slaves in what was to become the United States.

1 Barracoon 04:11
2 G sus 07:00
3 The Goldilocks Zone 03:18
4 The Immortal (H. Lacks) 06:27
5 13 06:56
6 Beyond the Goldilocks Zone 04:52
7 Communion 08:18
8 EYE Scream 06:24
9 Ursa Major 06:07
10 When You Wish Upon a Star 05:51

JD Allen, saxophone
Ian Kenselaar, double bass
Nic Cacioppo, drums

Image result for jd allen - barracoon