Cadence – First One Up

First One Up ~ Darren Barrett

The hard bop quintet has a history of creating original sessions filled with excitement, tension, and memorable melodies. Place trumpet and tenor saxophone side by side, toss out a lyrical tune, signal the planned format, and let ‘er rip. Darren Barrett’s quintet has been working together since 1995. Their session is tight, but deliberately edgy and full of surprises.

Two years ago Barrett won the 10th Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, placing first over Diego Urcola and Avishai Cohen. The trumpet competition proved truly international in the end, as the top three performers are from different areas of the world: Barrett was born in Manchester, England and grew up in Jamaica & Toronto; Urcola is from Argentina, and Cohen is from Israel. Darren Barrett, 31, is a graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and holds two master’s degrees from Queens College in New York. Currently working with Jackie McLean’s quintet, the trumpeter cites his main influences as Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Clifford Brown.

All but two tracks are Barrett’s compositions. His appreciation of the hard bop edgy oozes through everywhere. While each composition includes a melody that one can appreciate and recall well enough to whistle later, the arrangements allow considerable space for improvisation. Steve Allen’s “Impossible”, one of those tunes that you’re heard a million times but weren’t sure of the title or composer, provides the means for Barrett to display his caressing ballad style. Another ballad, “Conceta Elfreda”, is a lovely tribute to the trumpeter; forceful and bold, and yet creative in his harmonic thinking. Garrett and Barrett infuse tension by making intentional variations on the pitch. Throughout the session, a unique agitation pervades and insures that the listener remains on the edge of his seat. ~ Cadence Magazine By Jim Santella