Isrea Butler CONGO LAMENT

June 3, 2024

ISREA BUTLER

CONGO LAMENT

Independent label

Isrea Butler, trombone; David Loeb, piano; Steve Flora, bass; Bob Chmel, drums; Douglas Lawrence, tenor saxophone.

The Isrea Butler quintet opens with the title tune, written by the great Bennie Green. The trombonist (Butler) steps out-front and establishes the melody, with Dave Loeb on piano setting the tempo and the groove, along with Chmel on drums and Steve Flora’s bass. Midway through, the ensemble falls into a bebop walk, with Doug Lawrence stunning on tenor saxophone. The party has begun.

Butler has been dubbed a “superb musician and soloist who has great technique and a refined sophistication” by Scotty Barnhart, who is the bandleader of the Count Basie Orchestra. Tenor sax man, Doug Lawrence is a fellow Basie bandmate, so there is a comfort level between the two horn masters. Leading the rhythm section on piano is University of Nevada Las Vegas Director of Jazz Studies Dave Loeb. Isrea Butler has surrounded himself with greatness. Both his bassist, Steve Flora and his powerhouse drummer, Bob Chmel are veteran Nevada jazz players and complete his rhythm section. This band swings, choosing many songs that the historic trombonist, Bennie Green recorded and a few he composed. Green was a trombonist that had his own sound and was often praised for not sounding like jazz influencer, J. J. Johnson. Obviously, Isrea Butler tributes Benny Green on this recording. They slow swing through “Easy Living” pumping the arrangement full of blues. Butler wrote in his liner notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIDaJiIWXKo

“When I first heard Bennie Green playing alongside one of my other trombone heroes, J. J. Johnson, I was captivated by their sound and styles. So, for my debut recording as a leader, I needed to pay tribute to these two jazz greats that still ring within me so deeply,” Butler asserted.

Although this is Isrea Butler’s debut album as a bandleader, he is no newcomer to the world of jazz. His credentials shine! Butler has been lead-trombonist with the Basie Band (that won a Grammy for Large Jazz Ensemble Album “Basie Swings the Blues in 2023.” He also worked with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, the Mingus Big Band, Chico O’Farrill’s Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Jimmy Heath’s Orchestra and too many more to list here. Isrea Butler is a walking, talking fountain of music and history. As an educator, Butler is the Director of UNLV’s School of Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY_ntii113w

They close with a New Orleans arrangement of “See See Rider” but every tune on this recording spotlights the dazzling brilliance of Isrea Butler’s trombone, as well as the talents of his bandmates. This is a wonderful recording, full of swing, bebop, and tight arrangements on songs we know and love.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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