CONSTANTINE ALEXANDER

FIRETET

Independent Label

Constantine Alexander, trumpet/flugelhorn/composer; Julius Tucker, piano; Greg Essig, drums; Ben Dillinger, acoustic bass; Roy McGrath, tenor saxophone.

This album is ‘hard bop’ at its best!  Opening with a tune Alexander penned titled “The Show” I am swept into the energy and excitement of this Chicago-based trumpeter and his capable quintet.  Not only is Constantine Alexander a gifted trumpeter, he’s also an awesome composer.  Alexander has written every song on this ‘swinging’ album of music. I found each tune to be melodic and inviting.  You will probably find yourself humming or whistling along with these well-composed, original pieces.  There is a driving energy produced by these musicians, with Alexander leading the way, while Greg Essig slaps the tempo and excitement into place on drums. Their opening song, “The Show” blasts into my listening room with the power of a hurricane.  Alexander plunges into the spotlight on his horn and snatches the attention with his trumpet technique for several bars, dueting with Essig on drums until Ben Dillinger enters, briskly walking his acoustic bass and locking hands with Essig to create a smokin’ hot groove.  I see immediately why Constantine Alexander titled this album a “Firetet.”  The sparks fly from the tenor saxophone solo of Roy McGrath until Julius Tucker steps front and center on piano and adds his own spunk and spirit to the mix.  When they trade-fours with Essig, the drummer shows off his trap drum ‘chops’ with no compunction. This is a band that is both enthusiastic and talented.  Their enthusiasm is contagious.  Track #2, called “IDKY” calms the moment with a melodic slow walk arrangement that spotlights Ben Dillinger’s mastery during his double bass solo. Obviously, Constantine Alexander has surrounded himself with the crème de la crème of his windy-city jazz cohorts. Each musician adds their tremendous talent to this production. Consequently, I am thoroughly entertained. They swing as hard as Muhammad Ali punched!

Constantine Alexander is an alumnus of Chicago’s Lincoln Park High School.  He is currently the Jazz Trumpet Professor at Roosevelt University, where he earned his BA in Trumpet Performance and Alexander leads their Large Jazz Ensemble.  He received his master’s in music and jazz studies at DePaul University and was the 2018 city-wide Luminarts Jazz Competition winner and Fellow. This is an album I will enjoy playing repeatedly.  Every composition, each arrangement, and the stellar talent that plays this music fuels the imagination and feeds the spirit.

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