STUART MACK

VIBRATIONS

Outside in Music

Stuart Mack, trumpet/flugelhorn/composer; Alejandro Aviles, alto & tenor saxophone/flute; Manuel Valera, piano; Adi Meyerson, upright bass; Dan Pugach, drums.

There is a short ‘intro’ that spotlights Stuart Mack’s trumpet, with Manuel Valera accompanying him on piano.  They open this debut album for Stuart with the title tune, “Vibrations,”  that bursts onto the scene with energy and excitement. The pianist is wonderful and spirited.  Stuart Mack’s trumpet solo flies into my listening room like a streak of sunshine.  His horn tones are warm and inviting.  Soon, drummer Dan Pugach steps forward to show off his percussive skills.

I enjoyed “Stu’s Blues,” with bassist Adi Meyerson stepping forward to solo, followed by Alejandro Aviles on saxophone.  Most of the arrangements highlight the melody using the two horns who play in unison.  One exception is on “Pure Intentions” where Mack and Aviles unite harmonically.

Mack’s quintet called ‘The Mack Five’ is quickly making a name for themselves in the jazz world.  After graduating from Washington Community High School, (located in Washington, Illinois), young Stuart Mack was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of North Texas.  That university is heralded for their world-renowned jazz program.  Stuart became a poster boy for young, up and coming jazz musicians, appearing in the  ‘Next Generation Jazz Festival’ in Monterey, CA., and becoming a headliner at other jazz events like the 2014 Jazz Education network Conference in Dallas, Texas, and on the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational Gold Tournament in Palm Springs, Ca.

Mack has worked with legendary jazz artists like David Liebman, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Romero Lubambo, the Jihye Lee Orchestra, and others. After years of honing his craft and developing his style and tone on trumpet, Mack presents “Vibrations” to introduce his music to the world.  I am impressed with his composition skills.  Perhaps those skills grew and developed once he moved to New York City, where the young trumpeter began to step on stages around town with icons like Wycliffe Gordon, Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Peter Erskine, Cecil Mcbee, Donald Harrison, and others. Or perhaps it was the COVID pandemic that inspired some of his songs.

Stuart Mack says that after the confinement that the COVID pandemic brought to the world, “The vibration that filled the room made me remember the importance of music as a human connector.” 

Mack is one of our young jazz soldiers who is carrying the torch and importance of America’s significant Classical music, created and established by African American musicians,  and still ranks as one of the greatest cultural exports of the United States.  As Stuart Mack continues up the success path, I look forward to hearing more from this talented trumpeter.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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