Corridors

by Reuben Rogers, Kendrick Scott

Overview

On Corridors, his third Blue Note leader date, drummer/composer Kendrick Scott heads up a trio for the very first time. His compositions here reflect on the many changes imposed on humanity by the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrote eight of these nine tunes to fulfill a commission from The Jazz Gallery's 2020 Artist Fellowship Series. As he considered his writing, Scott paced the long corridor of his New York City apartment and wondered what other people were doing during the pandemic. The separation and solitude imposed by the global crisis inspired Scott to pare down his compositions. He left his longtime quintet Oracle on the sidelines in favor of a sax/bass/drums trio with bassist Reuben Rogers and saxophonist Walter Smith III. The reason: He wanted to reflect the solitude and emptiness of the streets, with no chords or lush interludes, only stark immediacy. Opener "What Day Is It?" is introduced by a strummed Rogers bassline followed by rolling snares and cymbals from Scott before Smith III enters on the melody and, despite its knotty cadence, drives the band into swinging like mad. On the title track, the trio move at once in a directed unison, reflecting on three unique tonal bodies as Rogers delivers a lyric intro and Scott dances behind him. Smith III joins in, articulating the blues and quoting from "The Look of Love" as the rhythm erects subtly dramatic tension behind him. "A Voice Through the Door" is a gorgeous ballad. Introduced as a solo by Smith III in waltz time, Scott adds halting brushes across snare, tom-toms, and hi-hat as Rogers delicately appends and extends the lyric melody. "One Door Closes" is a 40-second multi-tracked saxophone solo whereas "Another Opens" spends just under a minute as a mournful, song-like bass solo. The only non-Scott tune here is a reading of Bobby Hutcherson's seminal "Isn't This My Sound Around Me," a sultry, shimmering exercise in lyric post-bop with engaging interplay between Scott and Rogers instigated by Smith III's imaginative, canny melodic invention. "One Door Closes, Another Opens" combines the two solo interludes with Scott's muted kick drum, tom-toms, whispering cymbal washes, and wordless male vocals. Before it ends, Rogers brings out his bow, adding texture and dimension to Smith III's dirge-like blues. "Your Destiny Awaits" is a wonderful exercise in labyrinthine, slightly out, swinging post-bop. Closer "Threshold" commences as the bandleader constructs a well-textured solo using the drum kit's full dynamic range. It expands and contracts in pace, while the circular melody remains if not static, then economical. Rogers' bass solo frames the saxist's circular lyric phrasing in alternately spaced cadences. Corridors carries Scott's musical journey through the pandemic to account for both contemplative solemnity and restless, frenetic energy driven by fear, panic, and resolve. Scott's compositions impressively build on individual strengths to serve the trio's intimate communication and canny interplay. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	03/03/2023
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0602445521890

Tracks

1. What Day Is It?
2. Corridors
3. A Voice Through the Door
4. One Door Closes
5. Isn't This My Sound Around Me?
6. One Door Closes, Another Opens
7. Your Destiny Awaits
8. Another Opens
9. Threshold

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kendrick Scott   Primary Artist,Drums,Vocals
Walter Smith III   Primary Artist,Saxophone,Featured Artist
Reuben Rogers   Primary Artist,Bass,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Bobby Hutcherson   Composer
James Farber   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Walter Smith III   Composer
Reuben Rogers   Composer
Kendrick Scott   Leader,Composer,Producer
Steve Fallone   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Justin Bettman   Photography
Rachel Jones   A&R
Shubham Mondal   Assistant Engineer
Steven Sacco   Assistant Engineer