Philadelphia Heritage Art Ensemble Honors Tradition While Preserving Philly Legends Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley on ‘Crossing the Bridge 2’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

The Philadelphia Heritage Art Ensemble (PHAE) was co-founded by current contributor trumpeter Fred Adams who composed four the seven tunes here. The others are from influential Philadelphia jazz artists Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley. The PHAE  on Crossing the Bridge 2 is a seven-eight piece collective where  Fred Adams is joined by the late Kool & the Gang trombonist Clifford Adams (no relation) to whom the album is dedicated, along with his usual side mates, a mix of veterans and younger artists that includes James Stewart (tenor sax), Lee Smith (bass), Craig McIver (drums), and the younger pianists Luke Carlos O’Reilly and guest Alfie Pollitt,  who is on “The Trumpet Song” only.

Fred Adams moved to Philadelphia in the 60s where he held a trumpet chair in the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra for over 30 years. As a leader, he established the mission of the PHAE as dedicated to preserving and performing the work of Morgan and Mobley. Morgan’s composition “Soft Touch” and Mobley’s “Three Way Split” and “Work Out” are among the repertoire.

The album begins with “Bossa for Desta,” a Fred Adams composition written for his daughter, meant to convey the spirit of a dancer, carried eloquently by pianist O’Reilly and tenor saxophonist Stewart. The Morgan tune “Soft Touch” is not the kind of hard bop we usually associate with him. Instead, it’s a spiritual piece featuring Fred’s’ trumpet and Clifford’s trombone in melodic phrases accented by Smith’s bass work.  Hard bop marks Mobley’s “Three Way Split.” Naturally, Stewart commands most of Hank’s melodic thoughts here before yielding to Clifford, Fred, and then. as with many Mobley pieces, there’s some interesting drum passages, which McIver (a former member of Max Roach’s M’Boom) executes with aplomb.

As the title indicates, “Interlude” is a brief piece residing among the others that are mostly six-seven minutes in length.  It’s a spiritual ballad with pianist O’Reilly and bassist Smith contributing the melodic construction while the horns are heard in ensemble chording.  That one and the following “Dance of Six Sense” are Fred Adams compositions. The latter is based on ancient times where dances often delivered messages alongside ceremonial culture. The spiritual intuition within this six-eight meter is the melody, allowing the dance to create in all its wonder. It moves rather majestically, as one might envision a ballet, as Fred, Smith, and O’Reilly, who is especially sparkling here, solo.

”Work Out” is one of Hank Mobley’s most notable tunes. It has an up-tempo meter designed for the drummer and McIver assumes the spotlight, constructing his own inventive solo within the piece. The closer, as you might figure since it’s named “The Trumpet Song” is another Fred Adams original, a showcase for his expressive trumpet playing and featuring strong piano contributions from guest Pollitt.

This is an album that will evoke memories of those great Blue Note albums of the ‘60s with strong ensemble playing, and stellar soloing from each member. The spirit of Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley lives on.

 

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