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Branford Marsalis – EternalMarsalis Music 0011661330924
Branford Marsalis, saxophones; Joey Calderazzo, piano; Eric Revis, bass; Jeff “Tain” Watts, drums. Eternal consists of four compositions, one written by each member of the quartet and three, lesser-known ‘standards’. It is obvious from the start that emotion and introspection are the key motivators of the collection and it becomes more clearly so as the performance progresses. Leading off the album with a calmly Latin intro, The Ruby and the Pearl escorts Joey Calderazzo and the leader’s soprano along a trail of stepping stones, the pianist’s refined solo a pleasing contrast to his often tumultuous attack on the instrument. Drummer 'Tain' Watts next contributes the ardent overcast of his Reika's Loss, which is followed by another, deeply cloudy composition, Gloomy Sunday, dark indeed and threatening a storm that never does break, for this kind of emotion has no need for forceful violence: the depression that it circumscribes really is internalized, with introspection to the fore. The tom-toms and tenor characterize the threat, but the tempest is contained. The pianist’s The Lonely Swan swans around like any such bird, not going any place in particular. Always redolent of intent, it dabbles, dips and dibbles, though remaining elegant throughout. Dinner for One, Please, James should recall Coleman Hawkins to mind and further expands the pervasive atmosphere of pensive abstraction. Branford’s own Eternal is dedicated to his wife Nicole and completes the album with a contrasting mood; there is now a presence, accompanied by elation, where before was only absence and melancholic wistfulness. The whole is a very pleasant surprise from this very talented quartet, especially as with Joey Calderazzo and ‘Tain’ Watts on board, we tend to expect powerhouse fireworks. The band knows, though, that this would not be pertinent to the mood and they are in control from start to finish. It is an especially consummate performance for an album of ballads: too often do they fall by the wayside, awash in mushy insipidness. Not here, that would never be likely with a band of this stature.
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