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Trumpeter, Thomas Heflin - morning star (Blue Canoe Records) Morning Star is presented as a late-night radio show (complete with station IDs, and a radio DJ) and features songs that flow effortlessly from one to the next. The music on “Morning Star” features a traditional jazz group underpinned by layers of Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ and strings, as well as percussion and additional woodwinds to create a warm, soulful sound reminiscent of the CTI recordings of the 1970s. The music also fuses elements of modern jazz with R&B, gospel, and neo-soul. The album was conceived around the title track “Morning Star, ” and listeners may notice reworked snippets of the bassline and melody from the title track in other songs on the album. The music was recorded at the beginning of the CoVid outbreak, and the “morning star” – the last star seen at night before the new day arrives – also serves as a musical symbol of hope and optimism through these dark times. The radio DJ (Brandon Robertson) presents the tracks through poetic words of encouragement, creating the feeling of listening to an inspirational radio host during a late-night car ride. The album features several notable musicians including world-renowned tenor saxophonist Gregory Tardy (Elvin Jones), Mavis “Swan” Poole (Lauryn Hill, Prince) on vocals, Peter Stoltzman (Steve Gadd/Eddie Gomez) on piano, Steve Haines on bass, Aaron Matson on guitar, Ariel Pocock on vocals, Xavier Ware on drums, Dan Hitchcock on woodwinds and Jorge Luis Torres “Papiosco” (¡Cubanismo!) on percussion. According to Heflin, “The music for the album is inspired things that bring me joy and hope. “Morning Star” is the Slavic translation of my wife’s first name. ‘Anna Breschine’ is my daughter’s name and ‘The Moon Singer’ is inspired by a book by Clyde Robert Bulla that I like to read to her at night. In the story, a lonely child sings beautiful, wordless melodies to himself out in the forest. Evensong, which means ‘a service of evening prayers’ is meant to evoke a late night musical meditation. Haiku is a quirky song based on the chord changes of one of my favorite jazz standards, Benny Golson’s ‘Stablemates.’” The only composition that is not an original is “Self-Esteem, ” by James Williams, an inspirational song that perfectly encompasses the positivity and soulfulness of its composer. Originally recorded on his album “Truth, Justice, and the Blues, ” this version has been rearranged to feature vocalist Mavis “Swan” Poole singing the uplifting lyrics by Pamela Baskin Watson. For trumpeter Thomas Heflin, his Tennessee roots have always been a central part of his musical identity. His laid-back playing style mirrors his easy-going personality, and his songs are always inviting, soulful and melodic. Heflin grew up in Clarksville, TN. His grandfather, a painter and graphic artist, passed his passion for the arts to Heflin’s mother. Heflin grew up taking piano lessons and listening to wide variety of musical styles, but it wasn’t until he took up the trumpet at the age of 11 that things came into sharp focus. Around the same time, his grandfather gave him a recording of Louis Armstrong, and he quickly fell in love with jazz. After high school, Heflin attended the University of Tennessee where he discovered the music pianist, Donald Brown, who was professor of jazz piano at the time. Brown, who hails from Memphis, Tennessee, is considered one of the most influential jazz composers of his generation. Next, Heflin moved to New Jersey to attend William Paterson University for his master’s degree and to study with another Memphis-born pianist, James Williams. Heflin’s debut album, Symmetry, featured Williams on piano, and his newest album, Morning Star pays tribute to Williams (who passed away in 2004) by showcasing one of his compositions, “Self-Esteem.” Brown and Williams continue to be two of the biggest influences on Heflin’s music, as well that of the many musicians fortunate to learn from these great Tennessee jazz masters. After completing a doctorate at the University of Texas, Austin in 2009, Heflin moved to New York City where he performed with a variety of ensembles including the Smoke Big Band, led by trumpeter Bill Mobley (also from Tennessee). During his time in NYC, he served as Program Manager and Jazz Faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division. Heflin moved back to the south in 2014 to take the position of Assistant Professor of Jazz at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Brass at the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Heflin has been described as “a fluent trumpeter with a bright tone and a forward-looking style” by jazz writer Scott Yanow. He has been featured or mentioned in Italy’s Jazz Magazine and the Pittsburgh Tribune among others. His previous album, Live from Austin, was a collaborative CD with Ron Westray, former lead trombonist with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The album also featured drummer Adonis Rose and bassists Eric Revis and Neal Caine. Morning Star will be his fourth album to be released on Blue Canoe Records. The album seeks to combine a wide range of musical styles into a cohesive collection of songs presented as a late-night radio show. Heflin has also recorded five albums with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra as well as toured Europe with the ensemble, performing in France, Spain and Switzerland. More recent performances have taken him as far as Prince Edward Island in Canada, Brittany in France and Western Australia. Yet throughout his travels, he hopes to bring a little of his home state with him wherever he goes. Tracks, Times, Composer: 1.) Radio Intro 2:10 Thomas Heflin - trumpet and programming Brandon Robertson - announcer Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Mavis “Swan” Poole - vocals 2.) Morning Star 7:11 Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor sax, soprano sax and bass clarinet Dan Hitchcock - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - piano and keyboards Aaron Matson - guitar Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums Jorge Luis Torres “Papiosco” - percussion 3.) Self-Esteem (feat. Mavis “Swan” Poole) 7:41 by James Williams, lyrics by Pamela Baskin-Watson Mavis “Swan” Poole - vocals Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor and soprano sax Dan Hitchcock - bass clarinet Aaron Matson - guitar Peter Stoltzman - piano and keyboards Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 4.) Evensong 7:01 Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Aaron Matson - guitar Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 5.) Interlude 3:13 Thomas Heflin - trumpet Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 6.) Haiku (Trumpet Intro) 0:56 Thomas Heflin - trumpet 7. ) Haiku 5:31 Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - piano and keyboards Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums Jorge Luis Torres “Papiosco” - percussion 8.) Station Break 0:55 Thomas Heflin - trumpet and programming Brandon Robertson - announcer Peter Stoltzman - keyboards 9.) The Moon Singer 5:41 Ariel Pocock - vocals Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Aaron Matson - guitar Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 10.) Morning Star (Reprise) (feat. Mavis “Swan” Poole) 5:07 Mavis “Swan” Poole - vocals Thomas Heflin - trumpet Peter Stoltzman - piano and keyboards Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 11.) Anna Breschine 6:54 Thomas Heflin - trumpet Gregory Tardy - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums 12.) Radio Outro 4:37 Thomas Heflin - trumpet and programming Gregory Tardy - tenor sax Peter Stoltzman - keyboards Aaron Matson - guitar Steve Haines - bass Xavier Ware - drums **All songs written by Thomas Heflin, except “Self-Esteem, ” written by James Williams. |
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