The Vibe

Hot new trombonists don't hit town nearly as often as bad-asses on trumpet or saxophone. That's why Nanami Haruta is news. The Vibe, her debut as a leader, reveals that she has it all: crisp articulation, pure intonation, fresh ideas and quick-on-quick reflexes. She also sounds enthusiastic and supremely confident (her level of chops instills poise). These days serious jazz talent can come from anywhere on the planet. Haruta is from Sapporo, Japan. She traveled to the U.S. in 2023 and entered the jazz program at Michigan State University, studying under Michael Dease who, 20 years ago, was the hot new trombonist in town himself. For The Vibe, Haruta surrounds herself with high-level players a generation older: Dease (trombone, baritone on two tracks), Xavier Davis (piano), Rodney Whitaker (bass), Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums), plus guest Chris Minami (guitar on one track). The two-trombone front line inevitably invites comparisons to the paradigm of J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding. Haruta and Dease are comparably joined at the hip when they choose to be, but their interactions often sound bolder and freer than Johnson and Winding.

"Girlie's World" (Renee Rosnes), "Easy Money" (Gregg Hill) and "Woodpecker" (Haruta) are the kind of fast, tricky, snappy tunes that this band eats alive. Haruta and Dease excel at tight unison announcements, intense calls and clever responses, intricate counterpoint and the sudden changing of roles between killing soloist and provocative accompanist. But The Vibe contains more vibes than one. The strength of this album is in ballads. On her own "Heartstrings", Haruta draws out the yearning melody with the timing of a true storyteller. Dease's "How It Goes" and Whitaker's "Jamerson's Lullaby" are immersions in two distinct, alluring trombone sounds: his tone is rich but with an edge, while hers is warmer, with more breath in it. The album ends with a lovely rapt moment, a duet between Haruta and Minami, on Alex North's "Unchained Melody". "I've loved this song since I was a child," Haruta says. Her version will make many listeners remember that they love it too. Haruta lingers over that timeless tune, marking it out carefully, yet fervently, allowing it time to sink in.