The radio show format also allows for seamless transition between styles and tunes. The radio show host is Brandon Robertson with Mavis Poole providing sweet vocals. The band is made up of Thomas Heflin, of course, on trumpet, Gregory Tardy on tenor and soprano saxes and on bass clarinet, Dan Hitchcock also on tenor sax, Peter Stoltzman on piano and keyboards, Aaron Matson on guitar, Steve Haines on bass, Xavier Ware on drums, and Jorge Luis Torres on percussion, and Mavis Poole and Ariel Pocock on vocals.
This is a splendid group with all the right talents and techniques to makes this experience of love and music take flight. Heflin says, “The music for this album is inspired by things that bring me joy and hope.” The album has the same effect on the listener.
The warm and lovely melody of the title track, Morning Star, is beautifully opened by the horns with rhythms developed marvelously by the rhythm section. Heflin and the saxes weave excellent melodic lines atop the percussion and bass. The piano and guitar make terrific additions to the development in the back half of the song. This is a fine, fine start to an extraordinary album.
Self-Esteem is the only song on the album not written by Heflin. James Williams is the composer, with lyrics by Pamela Baskin-Watson. Mavis Poole’s vocals are brilliant, soulful, and encouraging and Dan Hitchcock works an understated bass clarinet that is a pleasure to hear. Gregory Tardy lays on some fine tenor and soprano sax.
Evensong is a sweet Jazz nocturne that sees Heflin’s trumpet and Tardy’s tenor sax working off against each other. Listen to Ware’s drumming beneath it all. Interlude follows with Heflin showcased alongside fine work by Stoltzman’s keyboards.
Haiku has a smoking solo trumpet intro that brandishes Heflin’s virtuosity like a saber. Haiku is taken over by the tenor sax with trumpet and works deliciously. Warmth seems to be the watchword for the whole album as emotion and joy are indeed revealed throughout.
The Moon Singer features Ariel Pocock’s vocalizations in this enchanting and disarming piece. Heflin’s trumpet exposition is met with the tenor saxophone’s extrapolation of the melody. The improvisations are extraordinary from all concerned. Then the reprise of Morning Star readdresses the earlier motifs and the results are cool as you could ever want.
Anna Breschine closes out the track list. It is a sweet and lovely portrait of Heflin’s daughter and expresses what every father would like to say to his child. Heflin does wonderfully what most of us cannot do. Haines gives a remarkable bass solo. This was my favorite song on an album rich in wonderful songs.
The album closes with the radio outro and words of encouragement and love. The musical farewell is inspiring.
Morning Star brings the listener the same joy that warmed Thomas Heflin’s heart in the first place. This is a delightful album that reveals and relished the loves of our lives.
~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl