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Victory!
JD Allen III Returns in Style
Critically acclaimed jazz artist JD Allen is behind the saxophone again, with an album that aims to keep his winning streak of genre innovation going. Drummer Rudy Johnston and bassist Gregg August return to round out the trio, combining their talents with Allen’s to make an album that arrests the listener’s attention. JD Allen III presents VICTORY!, an album that approaches jazz with a new set of rules.
The album marks the trifecta’s third outing under Allen’s Sunnyside Records partnership. The group has maintained the same line-up from widely praised debut release I AM to the current Victory!, allowing the artists to evolve together into their current energetically experimental form.
VICTORY! isn’t a conservative title, nor an easy one to live up to. It shows an ironclad confidence, almost daring the cynic to lend a critical ear. This confidence is backed by the unconventional approach to jazz that has distinguished JD Allen III in the modern jazz scene, alongside more than a little skill. “Wasting notes is a waste of time,” says Allen, summing up his perspective on composition. The group takes a simple arrangement of drums, sax, and bass strikingly far, leaving solos behind for unique melodies and unbounded creativity.
Allen certainly isn’t shy about taking the spotlight. All three members show off their chops with various hooks, but Allen’s signature saxophone drives much of the record. He skillfully rides and veers from the rhythm of his backers, making for an album that zooms in on its main talent with pride.
The compositions are kept short but sweet. Standout tracks include Sura Hinda, which has a tone and flavor one is almost tempted to call exotic, and the eponymous Victory!, which gets the album started off on the right note. It’s easy to see the spark that has brought Allen his reputation.
VICTORY! is supplemented by a short film on the life of JD Allen. The short, from Director Mario Lathan, is intended as an essential piece of the album as a whole. A final track in documentary form, punctuating the end of a journey through Allen’s “jukebox jazz”. Those interested in taking the trip can find VICTORY! on shelves now.
Available here.