After five previous albums, Sean Jones is particularly adept at plumbing complex emotional depths through his trumpet playing and composing.
“I didn’t want to do your typical love songs record that just deals with one aspect of love,” Jones said in a news release. “Not just the love from a man to a woman or the positive emotional side of falling in love. I wanted to do an album that really dealt with a few different shades of love.”
2010 was certainly a year of change for the trumpeter. In the spring, he stepped down from his position as lead trumpeter of Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a position that Jones held for over half a decade. Additionally, he formed a new relationship with Marcus Miller, joining the bassist this past summer for a European tour.
This year, the title of Jones’ sixth CD for Mack Avenue, No Need For Words, sums up his overall approach. This is music that cuts straight to the emotional heart, whether dealing with passion, sensuality, parental nurturing, or spiritual forgiveness. Regardless of the particular feeling involved, Jones and his band communicate directly and movingly.
“It’s definitely an emotional statement,” Jones said. “I tried to make sure that the melodies I created and the vibe that I put on each particular tune really carried the message rather than having it expressed verbatim.”
Joining Jones on the project is Philadelphia-based pianist Orrin Evans, whose recent projects include his raucous Captain Black Big Band and the collective group “Tarbaby”; bassist Luques Curtis, who co-leads a Latin-oriented quartet with his pianist brother Zaccai; and Miami-born drummer Obed Calvaire, who has also performed with Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Lizz Wright and Steve Turre.
