Orrin Evans’ “Walk a Mile in My Shoe” Hits the Shelves
The album offers a vibrant mix of tight horn arrangements, explosive soloing, and soulful vocals.
Walk a Mile in My Shoe
by Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band
Label: Imani Records
Recorded: March 9, 2024 at The Samurai Hotel
Released: August 16, 2024
The Captain Black Big Band, under the fearless leadership of Orrin Evans, has long been a beacon of modern big band Jazz. On Walk a Mile in My Shoe, they once again deliver a colorful blend of tight horn arrangements, explosive soloing, and soulful vocal features, offering a fresh take on the big band tradition without losing its roots. With a roster of guest vocalists including Lisa Fischer, Bilal, and Joanna Pascale, the album veers effortlessly between the worlds of Jazz, R&B, and soul, stitching them together with a common thread of groove and emotional weight.
Evans’ piano is as restless and daring as ever, and his arrangements allow each musician ample room to stretch out while maintaining a cohesive sound. Fischer’s turn on Blues In The Night is an absolute showstopper, while Bilal’s All That I Am blurs the line between Jazz improvisation and contemporary soul. Yet the instrumental tracks—like the intricate Hymn and a searing rendition of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes—ensure that this is a big band record through and through, one that captures the fire and finesse of Jazz’s past while keeping its gaze firmly fixed on the future.
Personnel
Sean Jones, Josh Lawrence • trumpets
Todd Bashore • alto saxophone, flute
Caleb Wheeler Curtis • tenor/soprano saxophones
David Gibson, Reggie Watkins • trombones
Vicente Archer, Madison Rast • double bass
Anthony Tidd (“Dislocation Blues”) • electric bass
Anwar Marshall, Mark Whitfield II • drums
Orrin Evans • piano
Guests: Lisa Fischer, Bilal, Joanna Pascale, Paul Jost
Guest soloists: Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Jesse Fischer (organ)