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Keyon Harrold’s third album finds the trumpeter tackling the ups-and-downs of personal relationships and learning life lessons. Like most of today’s trumpeters of note, the influence of Miles Davis is strong — it was Harrold’s trumpet that graced Don Cheadle’s biopic Miles Ahead. But his use of effects and sharp-edged lines gives him a personal voice and he uses his experience as a longstanding first-call artist to make his approach relevant.
Harrold got his first major gig while studying at the New School in New York — he was recommended to rapper Common by classmate Robert Glasper; both guest on this CD. Now aged 43, he oversees a closely produced set that supports and surrounds his elegant, soulful fluency with vocals, edgy beats and rap.
Opening track “Find Your Peace” sets the tone as Jean Baylor’s wispy R&B is followed by a pointed Common rap and Harrold’s trumpet blends and soars over unfolding vocal support. The mood is sustained for seven minutes, but swirls of detail keep the listener engaged.
“The Intellectual” displays the trumpeter soloing purposefully and introduces the flash and finesse of new discovery pianist Jahari Stampley and broody trumpet and Malaya vocals deliver the bittersweet “Don’t Lie”; drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave’s brittle chatter stands out on both. “Pictures” is the ballad, sparsely produced, with moody piano from Greg Phillinganes, one-time MD for Michael Jackson.
The upbeat “Beautiful Day” hovers a bit too close to poppy froth, but overall the set gets the balance of jazz freedom and high-gloss production just right. The title track presents a lovers’ dialogue as a seven-minute epic of intertwining lead voices and trumpet soaring in anguish and joy. Glasper’s distinctive voicings deliver narrative drive, Harrold and British singer Laura Mvula are the entwining vocal leads and emotions change on the point of a pin. The welter of textural detail is impressive, more so for enhancing the soloists’ trains of thought.
★★★★☆
‘Foreverland’ is released by Concord Jazz
