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Jazz appears to be lying low these days. Some of that is due to the devastating decline of the music business. In a time when established stars can’t sell their albums like they used to, how much chance does the lowly jazz musician have? There are so many inspired musicians out there recording and touring that even if its profile is lower, jazz is still alive and swinging. Look no further than horn man James Carter’s new release. Present Tense is as intense a set as anyone can expect to hear. Blowing through the roof on opener “Rapid Shave,” the whole band tears into it like they’re on a daring dash to show how revved up they really are. There is such a joyous attitude among the players, it’s obvious this is a session not to miss. On “Bro. Dolphy,” Carter gives big props to Eric Dolphy, capturing one of his heroes ability to walk right up to the edge of the experimental cliff but never fall off. The song is haunting but always warm, capturing the dichotomy at the center of so much modern jazz. If there was ever any doubt about the saxophonist’s blues cred, his take of Django Reinhardt’s “Pour Que Ma Vie Demeure” should settle it forever. It’s the most gorgeous outing here, and reminds us for all his frivolity, Reinhardt had a world of hurt inside his songs. The rest of the album goes into all the intriguing corners of modern music, including bossa nova, Middle Eastern-influenced improvisation, tearful ballads and beyond. The group, featuring trumpeter Dwight Adams, pianist D.D. Jackson, guitarist Rodney Jones, bassist James Genus, drummer Victor Lewis and percussionist Eli Fountain, is a new dream team. Each brings an excitement to the band that spurs the others on, showing that while the mainstream industry has seemingly moved on, jazz remains the lifeblood of American sounds. And James Carter is leading the charge to keep it that way. Follow him.
