"Collage"
Street Date: March 1, 2016
Trumpeter Chris Klaxton, whose “artistry is born from a place that communicated freedom and connection to a universal groove that will beg of you to dance,” according to renowned trumpeter Jason Palmer, presents his sophomore album "Collage", a follow up to his critically acclaimed debut "Starcode". Where "Starcode" explored both spirituality and science in the wake of a tragic loss, "Collage" is a reflection on release and letting go. Answers to the philosophical questions posed in his debut are, on this effort, explored through hauntingly beautiful melodies, rich harmonies, funky grooves and poignant storytelling. On "Collage", Klaxton has created a sound that is distinctly his and unique to the current landscape of modern jazz.
Chris Klaxton, trumpet
Taylor O'Donnell, vocals
Mark Small, tenor sax
Kendall Moore, trombone
Mike Effenberger, rhodes
Tim Jago, guitar
Sam Weber, bass
Michael Piolet, drums
For "Collage"
CHRIS SPECTOR
MIDWEST RECORD
Most certainly a wild ride from a cat that understands how to free his mind without letting the wheels come off. Read here.
GEORGE HARRIS
JAZZ WEEKLY
" Some indie folk pops up on the dreamy “Love Gone Wild” and some guitar effects and electronic are found on “Fictional Friends Remix.” A bit pulling in two directions makes for interesting moments here, with Weber’s flexible bass keeping a lot of this together.." Read the full review here.
JAMES NADAL
ALL ABOUT JAZZ
"Having the support of reliable and loyal accompanists make for a more realistic approach in songwriting and performance, as familiarity lends itself to a more natural setting and outcome. Add this to appropriate blending of various elements in his musical realm, and Klaxton came up with another attitude on modern jazz." Read the full review here.
TRAVIS ROGERS JR.
THE JAZZ OWL
"Collage is a fitting title. Klaxton arranges snippets of sound, all composed by himself, in appropriate order and creates a sum greater than its individual parts. The various styles and structures are expressions of Klaxton’s individual artistry and the influences upon him. It is the kaleidoscope of memory caught in a mist of remorse. Somehow Klaxton creates beauty out of grief." Read the full review here.
LEONID AUSKERN
JAZZ QUAD
"Klaxton composes music built on complex harmonies and angular melodies that requires sustained attention from the listener, so as not to lose the thread interwoven improvisations of various tools. But an attentive listener will be rewarded by the pleasure of the perception of the intelligent and truly creative Chris Klaxton." Read the full review here.
CHRIS BARBER
JAZZ VIEWS
"Klaxton is an impressive trumpet player with a surety of touch and an approach to composition which has a distinct blend of a jazz tradition with contemporary touches." Read the full review here.
For "Starcode"
JAMES NADAL
ALL ABOUT JAZZ
"Chris Klaxton is a prime example of ambitious players who are coming up today and breathing new life into the music. Well-schooled by top trumpet masters, he not only has the chops, but also the unbounded imagination needed to transmit his ideas with music. His blending of cosmic jazz with earthy vocals in this occasion worked and can only serve to stimulate his sense of adventure in future endeavors." Read the full review here.
ANTHONY DEAN HARRIS
NEXTBOP
It's a particularly strong debut album that you should definitely check out. Klaxton has been around the block a few times, studying at the University of New Hampshire before working with Terence Blanchard, Dave Douglas, and others, but it's with this release that the artistic statement he's making is clearly his, and it clearly works. Read the full review here.
LANCE LIDDLE
BEBOP SPOKEN HERE
Klaxton is a fine trumpet player and a credit to his past tutors such as Terry Blanchard and Clark Terry. Read the full review here.