Theo Croker: In the Tradition

Theo Croker-trumpet, vocal (2, 4, 6, 9, 11), Joe Sanders-bass, Sullivan Fortner-piano, Albert "Tootie" Heath-drums, Benny Powell-trombone (7, 10)

Description:
Carrying on "In the Tradition" of his grandfather, Doc Cheatham, Theo Croker presents his debut album on Arbors Records. "Theo is honoring his lineage as the grandson of the legendary Doc Cheatham... On first hearing his trumpet on this immediately distinctive recording, I was struck by his "signature sound" - personal and indeed "in the tradition," but also contributing to its future. It«s a voice speaking directly to the listener, and his avoidance of showboating technique reminded of what Count Basie once said to Buck Clayton: «I«d give a thousand dollars to find a trumpet player who doesn«t play so many notes." - Nat Hentoff, the dean of jazz critics, was an Associate Editor of Down Beat from 1953 to 1957 and currently writes about jazz for Jazz Times, The Village Voice and the Wall Street Journal as well as being the author of numerous books on jazz, most recently American Music Is, DeCapo, 2004
Selections:
Black and Blue, It Don«t Mean a Thing (If It Ain«t Got That Swing), She«s Funny That Way, Gee Baby, Ain«t I Good To You, Struttin« with Some Barbecue, You«re Blase, Jada, New Orleans, I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues, St. Louis Blues, I Cover the Waterfront, Bourbon Street Parade, Little Things That Mean So MuchMusicians: