Album Review: Green Lights from Troy Roberts
Album: Green Lights
Artist: Troy Roberts
Label Name: Toy Robot Music
Website: troyroberts.com
Record Label address: toyrobotmusic.com
Facebook: @TroyRobertsMusic
Instagram: @mistertoyrobot
Bandcamp link: https://troyroberts.bandcamp.com
Typical of saxophonist and leader Troy Roberts is his indelible skill to form dynamic conversations with his bandmates. Uniquely individual of himself is his proclivity to be both a stimulant and to be stimulated, exploring multiple ways in which he interfaces with his musicians. His saxophone turns thoughtful and pensive in his musings along "The Question," then moves with a whimsical flair through the title track, and pivots to a suave and lofty voice as he helms the melodic course of "By Your Side," all from his latest release Green Lights.
The band engages in a lively spontaneity along "Solar Panels," demanding the listener to pay attention to multiple players from the brisk ramblings of MacBride's agile drumming to Roberts's bellowing saxophone toots, Patitucci's percolating bass pulls, and Bollenback's smoldering guitar chords. Each instrument beckons the listener's attention, creating a boiling cauldron of activity that comes together midway through the track and forms a funky groove as Roberts's saxophone flicks and swirls.
The tone of the instruments turns dark and sinister through the intro of "Harry Brown" then evolves into a smooth straight-ahead jazz soundscape with Roberts's saxophone gliding and swiveling, as his collaborators shadow his freestyle improvisations, providing dimension and contrast. The blues funk ambience of "Jive Dumpling" is gilded in Bollenback's glinting guitar streaks as Robert's saxophone soars and inflames.
Roberts peppers "Up To No Good" with the frolicking strut of his saxophone then recedes to a laidback stride. His saxophone softens to a torchlight intensity across "The Scotsman Ballad," swishing with a graceful penmanship. The breezy chord patterns of Bollenback's guitar coasting along the track is accentuated by Bride's light drum taps and Patitucci's comfy bass line.
"Stretch Armstrong" is a jumping bebop romp that showcases the nimble beats of MacBride's drums and Patitucci's bass while Bollenback's guitar courses an adventurous path combined with Roberts improvised saxophone excursions. The recording closes with "Soundcheckin'" inviting the listener to a short behind the scenes listen to the band.
The press release for the recording describes that "the notion of 'green lights' symbolizes his autonomy in the creative process, an idea inspired by the Wayne Shorter documentary, Zero Gravity. Roberts interprets the color green as a multifaceted symbol representing various themes like tranquility, nature, positivity, but also decay, rot, greed, or envy. This interpretation adds a rich layer of meaning to the album, inviting listeners to explore these themes through the lens of his music."
Australian-born, now long-time New York City resident, Troy Roberts continues to pioneer new terrain along the jazz spectrum, conversing with new voices, coining new improvisations, and forming new collaborations. His versatility and fluidity to blend traditional bebop, funk, blues, and straight-ahead jazz with contemporary improvisations and impressions is rooted in the artist he has shaped himself to be. Unique of himself, Troy Roberts harnesses innovation through his friendships with his collaborators.
Musicians:
Troy Roberts - tenor saxophone
Paul Bollenback - guitar
John Patitucci - acoustic bass
Jimmy MacBride - drums
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