His tenor seems to exude pure energy as he devours the carefully chosen repertoire with strong, limber chops. Govoni demonstrates a firm grasp of a broad range of jazz traditions on Hiding In Plain Sight, his straightahead approach integrating all the major branches of the bebop tree into one all-encompassing, mature voice. In addition, the group cleverly transforms the samba “Thinkers Anonymous” (by legendary trombonist and jazz educator Hal Crook) into a driving 7/4 montuno. Band members contribute four fully developed tunes of their own, including two by Hey (who serves as session producer), one by Pope and one by the leader. Joined here by pianist Henry Hey, bassist Mike Pope, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts and, on several tracks, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, Govoni digs deep into a substantial program that includes four immensely satisfying pieces by the veteran pianist-composer Paul Nagel. It’s also the Boston-based tenor saxophonist’s third recording as a leader for Whaling City Sound.
Hiding In Plain Sight is longtime Berklee faculty member Dino Govoni’s first album in nearly a decade. Newton wears writing and playing like he wears his heart: on his sleeve as an artist of true passion. And the closer, “Our Chosen Family,” speaks to the community of musicians the trumpeter has embraced and been embraced by over the years. “The Bluest Eyes” honors author Toni Morrison’s book The Bluest Eye. “A Child Not Yet Born” evokes the jazz noir balladry of another time and place. “Affectionately Roy” is a strong addition to the canon of new music written in the memory of trumpeter Roy Hargrove. The title track slides in as a driving swinger. So does Sean Nowell’s tune “Pale,” with strong appearances by Shaw and trombonist Michael Dease. But the group’s take on John Scofield’s “I’ll Catch You,” with a tight groove and guest appearance by alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, stands out. The Monkish playfulness of “Lawn Darts” by bassist Peter Brendler delivers an outside-in breath of joy. His friend and musical co-conspirator Marcus Schultz-Reynolds contributes two beautiful pieces, “Litoral” and “Force Of Gravity.” Hirahara offers his tune “Laws Of Motion” to the mix. Instead, Newton selects work by living, working composers on the scene today. The 11-song collection on Feel The Love features five of his original tunes, but doesn’t lean on old chestnuts to fill out the scorecard. Now in his mid-40s, the trumpeter and composer has a firm grip on the music he makes.
The album has the feel of post-bop grittiness and experience Newton has earned from years on road and ears that are wide open to the new.
Newton blew into New York City from his home in Portland to record Feel The Love with the backing of Art Hirahara on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass and Rudy Royston on drums - a group affectionately known as the house rhythm section for Posi-Tone Records. The trumpeter best known for creating the social media group Jam of the Week (which now has some 70,000 members), and hosting his jazz radio show on KMHD in Portland, Oregon, has had his heart in jazz throughout his career, even while playing and touring with a range of artists that spans funk bassist Bootsy Collins, soul singer Jill Scott and many others. Farnell Newton comes at jazz with a wider, more encompassing view than most.
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