Blair Bryant - Cerulean Blue (2018)

cago with his parents in and out of churches hearing the best music possible, he has absorbed the full music tradition. Coupled with his love for jazz, he has demonstrated a musical ability that belies his youth, with a specific level of skill, richness and detail in his recordings and compositions. We already knew with his first 2 releases ͞New Colours͟ and ͞Gold͟ that this kid could play numerous instruments (14) extremely well. But after getting his degree in Jazz studies from the Music Conservatory in Missouri and as his experience level has grown, it’s time to start talking about him and his virtuosity for what it is- A genius gift from God. Accomplished musicians like Najee, Darren Rahn, Blake Aaron, Mike Phillips, Bernie Williams, Nick Colionne and others have remarked on his talents and phenomenal ability to play bass. But the true measure of his gift lies in the emotions that he makes you feel when he plays. For the last 2 projects he has been called by many reviewers as ͞The Next.͟ With the release of ͞Cerulean Blue͟ his third album in as many years, we can proclaim that he is definitely ͞The Now͟ and is infusing jazz music with a new sense of vitality and joy that hasn’t been seen in a long time. Blair says ͞with this project I really wanted to show people what I can do, and my range as a musician and producer. I also wanted to showcase my truest love for the fusion jazz art form.͟On ͞Cerulean Blue͟ he has stepped up his game, working with some of the best in the business, going deeper into his sound and repertoire which feels more like a momentous journey. Showcasing his skills in Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Traditional Jazz and R&B, it’s literally a smorgasbord for the jazz lover. Collaborations with Darren Rahn, Najee, Donald Hayes and Blake Aaron and other extremely talented artists are featured on this self-produced project. Blair is putting on a clinic on the lead bass, buttressed by deep hooks and beautifully intricate melodies that should delight music lovers. As usual there are no bad songs on this release, and every guest artist and instrument are perfectly paired with songs to create drama, tension and enough beauty to be compared with any dazzling sunsets, beautiful beaches, evocative pastoral moods or profound jagged emotion. His most interesting ͞instant’ classic is the title song ͞Cerulean Blue,͟ a bass arranger’s delight, featuring Blair playing 3 basses next to harmonic vocals to create a memorable, arabesque, hauntingly beautiful masterpiece in the technique of strumming, tapping and harmonic overtones. While the jazz world has mostly been encouraging and appreciative of Blair’s instrumentality, the release of this new album demands a deeper analysis and recognition of what we are witnessing: none other than the victorious flight of a musical butterfly, resplendent in all his genre redefining ways.