Craig Harris - Managing the Mask (2022) Hi-Res

Compositionally very convincing and once again a trombone theme to recent posts applies in the days since the news of the passing of Grachan Moncur III spread – Judas and the Black Messiah film music composer Craig Harris here in scintillating form directing a horn-heavy painterly ensemble who recorded in a New York studio last year.

'Twenty Four Days an Hour' has a chant and breakout churchified organ and on the album too there is a fine homage to Black Panther Fred Hampton in 'Requiem for Fred Hampton' among its features. For us the overriding interest in what is an excellent album is in the close horn arrangements and surprises (use of didgeridoo on 'Venus Outside My Window' which is not at all gimmicky – yes that is possible) and the beautiful ballad 'Song for a Friend' with flute set against descending horn lines and a delicious Harris solo.