CD Review: Rebecca Coupe Franks - Check the Box

Featured Artist: Rebecca Coupe Franks
CD Title: Check the box

Year: 2010

Record Label: Independent

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Rebecca Coupe Franks (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, vocals, percussion), Luis Perdomo (piano, organ), Mary Ann McSweeney (bass), Richie Morales (drums), Summer Corrie (vocals)

Review: Rebecca Coupe Franks is a master trumpet player with the ability to mix different influences and create wonderful, interesting music. Exposure is one example of several tunes on this album with a clear latin flavor. Some of that latin feeling is provided by Pianist Luis Perdomo and drummer Richie Morales.

Besides playing trumpet, Rebecca shares lead vocals responsibilities with singer Summer Corrie. Rebecca sings in the latin tune Check the box with some nice “montunos” on piano by Luis Perdomo, on Next to me, a tune with nice voice/trumpet harmonies and the funky tune New & Now. Rebecca is also the singer in the blues Starting Over, so yes, she can sing and play the blues too.

Summer Corrie provide the hip hop style on Be the people and the modern vocals on Love Storm and Life has just begun, all of them with cool trumpet fills by Rebecca Coupe.

Chase is a tune with hard bop influences and one of my favorites on this album. On this track Rebecca shows her improvisational creativity and great technique. The rhythm section is fantastic on this one with Luis Perdomo on piano with his Monk like harmonies and impressive solos, Mary Ann McSweeney on bass and Richie Morales on drums.

The organ playing by Luis on the tracks Distraction and Thursday give them an almost gospel feel. Rebecca and Luis share the melodies on the intro of Mass before changing into a fast bebop groove and exchanging some cool solos.

This album and especially the slow, beautiful instrumental PAJ, is dedicated to Rebecca’s father.

Tracks: Exposure,Check the box, Be the people, Starting all over, Chase, Love Storm, Mass, New & Now, PaJ, Distraction, Next to me, Life has just begun, Thursday, Exposure Duo

Artist's Website: http://www.rebeccacoupefranks.com/

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre