If Only for One Night

Album review

At first glance of the cover art and title, you would be led to believe this is trumpeter Wallace Roney's romantic, late-night ballad album. While there's an after-hours aspect, this in fact is his first live performance release, done at the Iridium Jazz Cafe in N.Y.C., reunited with brother/saxophonist Antoine Roney. Retro-fusion and funk à la latter period Miles Davis with hard-swinging jazz and some pop-type ballads comprise this meaty and beaty session full of energetic highs and introspective low-key music. On the upper end, the hardcore electro-funk of "Quadrant" is a workout right out of the box, while "Metropolis" is a swift-kicking hard bopper straight from the urgent mid-'60s. The Roneys cover the Tony Williams late-period neo-bop beauty "Only with You" that starts the group on an introspective roll, as does the evocative "I Have a Dream," and the last three tracks, including Janet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile," tone the set to a whisper. The closer "FMS/For My Son" is Wallace Roney's triumphant solo trumpet taking center stage as if he was born to play sans a rhythm section, perhaps food for thought on a future project. Aruan Ortiz is very noticeable in this quintet setting for his acoustic or electric keyboard, on either forceful or quiet dynamics. A diverse and enjoyable set, overdue for Roney in a club or concert setting, it shows he's a strong player with plenty of ideas in the tank based in tribute to his idol Davis.

© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo