The Elliott Caine Quintet FURIOSITEE!
THE ELLIOTT CAINE QUINTET
FURIOSITEE!
EJC MUSIC
Elliott Caine, trumpet/flugelhorn; Don Littleton, drums; Michael Boito, piano; Bill Markus, contrabass; Victor Baez, percussion; Scott Gilman, tenor saxophone.
Elliott Caine is a trumpeter inspired by Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard who has been performing in and around Los Angeles for many years. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, he studied with David Baker at Indiana University. Early in his career, he performed with the Jimmy Coe Big Band. Then, he moved to Los Angeles.
For this new recording, Caine has composed seven out of the eight songs that he’s arranged. Most of this music is propelled with Latin rhythms. Elliott has long been a lover of salsa bands and music, also performing with various Latin jazz groups throughout his career. His album opens with the title tune, “Furiositee!” a creative word that supports the furious energy Caine employs with his quintet. Drummer Don Littleton sets the groove, establishing a mambo beat before the horn players jump into the arrangement with the melody.
A song he calls “Permanent Revolution” has a catchy melody with a groove that reminds me of the John Coltrane days. Scott Gilman takes an impressive tenor saxophone solo. Caine takes his own lengthy solo during this arrangement.
Most of the jazz community in southern California is familiar with the late, great drummer, Kenny Elliott. Even if you aren’t living in California, if you enjoyed Lou Rawls you saw and heard Kenny Elliott on Lou’s recordings and in his performance band for years. Caine celebrates the drummer’s legacy with a tune he titled “Bossa for Kenny.” This is one of my favorite tunes on Caine’s album with interesting chord changes and a great melody. It has a Latin flavor and once again features the horn players offering their own improvised solos. Michael Boito fills our ears with musicality during a brief solo. Bill Markus comes next and makes his double bass sing.
The quintet’s one “cover” tune is the familiar “East of the Sun.” Caine has arranged it as a happy cha-cha number, with his horn out front and introducing the melody. This tune made me long for a dance partner. I was quite impressed with the piano solo of Michael Boito.
Elliott Caine has performed with a slew of legendary jazz folks including Red Holloway, Ernie Andrews, The Estrada Bothers, Teddy Edwards and more. But perhaps the oddest name in his bio is that of the infamous Dr. Jack Kevorkian (the assisted suicide doctor) whom he recorded with while Kevorkian played flute and organ on musical recordings. I could only find one album online that was released by Dr. Kevorkian titled, “A Very Still Life.” That was wild!!
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
