East-West Trumpet Summit

The two-trumpet ensemble is not a new thing in jazz, but it sure is a good thing in the hands of New Yorker Ray Vega and Seattleite Thomas Marriott. Their paths had crossed on both coasts over recent years, and a friendship and mutual respect developed. Resulting, of course, in this recording. Former Seattle pianist (now New Yorker) Travis Shook leads a rhythm section that also boasts two Seattle aces, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer Matt Jorgensen. The quintet leads off with a couple well known vehicles in "It's You or No One" and Horace Silver's opus, "Juicy Lucy." Things pick up from there with Marriott's original, "Pelham Gardens," a hard bop thrasher. It's followed by "Bishop Island," another Marriott creation, this time in waltz tempo. Two of Ray's tunes come next. "Only For A Season" suggests Tom Harrell's "Sail Away" to these ears. "It's A New York Thing" is a high energy powerhouse. It's followed by a medley of evergreens with Ray on Monk's "'Round Midnight" and Thomas on Duke's "In A Sentimental Mood." Just gorgeous. The session's closer is Marriott's tune, "Big Brother," a tip of the hat to his colleague on this very satisfying meeting of two trumpet standouts.