Where the average jazz repertoire is still dominated by standards, the occasional company Next Collective opted for arrangements of contemporary pop and rock songs. This happened according to an idea of Chris Dunn, producer and a & r manager of the jazz label of Concorde Music Group. He brought together the crème de la crème of a young generation of jazz musicians (with the greatest name
… being trumpeter Christian Scott) and produced the album in consultation with the members. The covers, ranging from Africa (d'Angelo) to Fly Or Die (NERD) and Perth (Bon Iver), mainly serve the sizzling improvisations and solos of all members. At the most, the melodies and structures of the originals are touched upon. A song like Pearl Jam's Oceans, for example, is mainly reminiscent of the original in terms of its dark atmosphere, while Dido's big hit Thank You provides inspiration for a mellow jazz ballad. The latter song is an almost traditional closing of an album full of passionate and whimsical modern jazz. (MR)more
