Due out February 19
on Woodward Avenue Records, the appropriately titled ‘Tropicality’ from sax-man Elan Trotman not only gives a nod to his Caribbean
heritage but also chronicles Elan’s life-changing journey from Barbados to
Boston. In part, the album has been
co-produced by Trotman and guitar star Peter White while the fact it was it recorded
in Barbados, Boston and Los Angeles has provided Trotman with the opportunity
to draw upon a stellar array of musicians from around the world.
Among
these are big hitters such as Nick Colionne, Jeff Lorber, U-Nam, Paul Brown and
Lin Rountree whilst the addition of A-list session players Alex Al, Ricky
Lawson, Tracy Carter, Lenny Castro and Tony Moore ensures that this is a
collection of the highest standard imaginable.
Not surprisingly Caribbean connections are everywhere and none
more so than with Trotman’s rendition of the cool Bob Marley classic ‘Wait In Vain’. The tune is no stranger to smooth jazz
makeovers (having been spectacularly included in Lee Ritenour’s wonderful 1993 recording
‘Wes Bound’) but here it is Trotman
on flute who really gets the job done. It
is one of two well-chosen cover versions and the other is Stevie Wonder’s ‘Master Blaster (Jammin)’, which, back in 1980,
Wonder wrote as his tribute to the aforementioned Marley.
Elsewhere the extremely easy grooving ‘Tradewinds’ shimmers like light on water and with some superb
guitar interjections from the always-excellent Peter White, proves to be a real
gem. In similar melodic vein is the
hugely soothing ‘Sunset In Paradise’
and, when Trotman eases up the tempo, the splendidly horn driven ‘Funkalypso’ delivers basically what the
title suggests it might.
‘Bridgetown To Beantown’
alludes to the journey that Trotman made from his native Caribbean to Boston,
MA and smooth jazz stardom. It’s a smoky
track with a handsome keyboard solo from Lorber and later, when Lorber returns
for the entirely zesty ‘Wave’, his
input complements to perfection Trotman’s virtuoso performance on flute.
The relaxed nature of ‘A
Time And Place’ has the fingerprints of Paul Brown all over it. He co-writes (with Thomas Klemperer) and
provides his own inimitable sound on guitar whereas its Trotman who continues
this decidedly romantic theme with ‘Always
With You’ that he co-writes with Peter White.
‘Danca Ku Mi’ is built
around a compelling vibe that is engendered by the combination of Trotman’s
smooth playing and attention catching background vocals from Emanuela Nadia
Alves. Later the sumptuous title cut
keeps the mood relaxed yet is in complete contrast to ‘Island Groove’ which, hiding amongst what otherwise are predominately
understated, sunshine filled songs, has the potential to fill dance floors
around the world. Produced by Rhani
Song, and with sensuous vocals from Chantel Hampton, this one may well prove to
be the surprise packet of the entire album.