New York alto saxist Patrick Cornelius doesn’t rip up the jazz guidebook, but if he’s a traditionally lyrical artist, he springs surprises just the same. This suite of originals was inspired by AA Milne’s 1920s childrens’ classic When We Were Very Young, but there’s nothing cosy or twee about it, with Cornelius furnishing sparky settings for his own solos and those of a polished ensemble including pianist Gerald Clayton, trombonist Nick Vayenas, and guitarist Miles Okazaki. Debussy, Ellington and Charlie Parker audibly guide Cornelius here: the soft horn intro of Sand Between the Toes releases a soaring sax line over Clayton’s prodding vamp; the balance of sustained trombone sounds and boppish vivacity on Water Lilies turns into a vivid inspiration for trumpeter Jason Palmer, and the punchy Jonathan Jo reveals the composer’s resourcefulness in the shaping of a contemporary blues. Lines and Squares is an ingenious piece of fast-swapping swing, while Vespers is an exercise in slow-burn horn voicings a little reminiscent of Maria Schneider. There’s a faint whiff of the composition class at times, but Cornelius wears his learning increasingly lightly as time passes.
