Ron Horton, Antonio Zambrini, Ben Allison, Tony Moreno, It’S A Gadget Word
Trumpeter shows off his range
Ron Horton likes to play over meticulously arranged, ear-catching compositions that leave plenty of space for his big, smooth-toned trumpet to maneuver. He’s an emotional musician, but there’s a lot of intellectual ballast in his approach. It’s a Gadget World gives him a forum to exhibit his range. He’s in fast company with pianist Antonio Zambrini, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Tony Moreno, all of whom eat this material up.
And they don’t waste any time getting to it. The title track starts off as a vaguely menacing funk vamp. Over this churning background, Horton’s trumpet snarls and slurs. It’s fun, for sure, but it’s substantial too. “Gaia” is as welcoming as “It’s a Gadget World” is tough. The leader’s tone recalls a more full-bodied version of Kenny Wheeler‘s. “Gaia” may be a ballad, but Moreno understands that there are ways to play forcefully in this context. “Shorter” has a tricky, dizzying head that Zambrini sets up nicely. He follows up with a well-argued solo, played with real connection to his band mates. “Towing the Line” allows the rhythm section to establish a deep and irresistible groove, exquisitely subtle, for Horton to get started. They let the music breathe, expanding the piece as it goes.
It’s particularly heartening to hear Andrew Hill’s incomparable compositions being played by contemporary groups. Horton, who was the trumpet player in Hill’s later bands, offers tribute with “Laverne.” The late pianist generally played the tune with a lot of tonal and rhythmic shifting. Horton and his cohorts turn it into a sunny, straight ahead reading, closing the album optimistically.
