Adam Schroeder & Mark Masters - CT! (2024)

by CONNOR MCCORMICK
There are certain bodily movements that humans do without thinking: the expansion and contraction of the lungs, the beating of the heart, or in this case, the tapping of the foot to a deliciously slow, swinging groove. On CT!, baritone saxophonist and bandleader Adam Schroeder teams up with arranger Mark Masters to deliver a tasty baker’s dozen tunes in the Basie/Ellington/Strayhorn style, all composed by renowned trumpeter Clark Terry. The album will be released January 19, 2024 via Capri Records.

Schroeder conceived of the recording as a celebration of Terry’s 100th birthday. That plan was delayed by the pandemic but eventually realized a few years later. Schroeder’s motivations for the record were heartfelt.

“I wanted to celebrate what Clark gave to me and so many others around the globe for decades – musically, educationally, and as a mentor,” said Schroeder. “He was so giving, while at the same time demanding the utmost respect for the music and its process, and thus demanding that the players and listeners be present and collaborative.”

That collaborative spirit and commitment to the music is evident throughout CT!, from the exhilarating solos to what Masters refers to as the “sound of surprise” of the band as a unit.

“This style of music and this type of record are becoming more and more infrequent,” said Masters, “so it’s always a joy when great musicians come together to make music, and it only becomes music when they bring the music to life.”

Schroeder’s powerful bari sax gets a lot of space to shine (check out “Groundhog” for a particularly fine example), but so do the other band members, from the trading trio of saxophonists Kirsten Edkins and Bob Sheppard and trombonist Ido Meshulam on the swinging “Ode To Pres,” to trumpeter Aaron Janik on the sumptuous “Michelle.” Every tune is elevated by the sensitive drumming of elder statesman Peter Erskine. And the band as a many-headed whole shines throughout.

“Mark always writes in such a way that each person is individually challenged and thus challenged within the context of the ensemble as well,” said Schroeder, “and that is what brings his arrangements to life. As Mark and I talked about who would solo on which tunes, I smiled, imagining that person’s voice being spotlighted. I knew exactly who would be featured on which chart as soon as we had the musicians lined up. It was absolutely amazing to be in the room with them all.”

According to Schroeder, everyone in the band had a story about Clark Terry, many of which they shared at the recording session.

“When you really get down to it,” Schroeder said, “the community is so small, loving, generous and inspirational that you forget how vast the musical world is and how connected we all are through the music. CT loved the music and being generous, and to see his imprint on each person there over those few days – I will honestly never forget it. It was awe-inspiring.”

The proof is in the playing, and CT! is full of the kinds of moments that Terry himself would have appreciated, created by a band full of people with a clear connection to the history of the music, to its future, and to one another.

Sal Lozano, alto saxophone / Bob Sheppard, tenor and soprano saxophones / Kirsten Edkins, tenor saxophone / Adam Schroeder, baritone saxophone / Francisco Torres, lead trombone / Ido Meshulam, trombone / Lemar Guillary, trombone / Dan Fornero, lead trumpet / James Ford, trumpet / Aaron Janik, trumpet / Edwin Livingston, bass / Peter Erskine, drums