Christian Scott
Diaspora
Ropeadope Records
Diaspora is the second part of Christian Scott’s trilogy celebrating the centennial of recorded jazz. Scott is respectful of the jazz tradition, but he sees it as a living thing. Like the music percolating in the streets of his native New Orleans, the jazz tradition is ever changing, ever adapting and always looking for the next innovation.
Scott’s trajectory is takes off from Miles Davis early ’70s electric bands and Herbie Hancock’s late ’80s experiments with hip hop rhythms. Scott brings a moody, almost Jon Hassel-like ambience with trap rhythms to his music. On Diaspora, Scott shines the spotlight on his collaborators saxophonist Braxton Cook, phenomenal flutist Elena Pinderhuges and pianist Lawrence Fields. The best leaders surround themselves with great players. Those players will take the music forward one day. That’s another part of the jazz tradition Scott is keeping alive. I look forward to hearing what all of these young players will bring to the ever evolving world of jazz.
