A riff blues head—much less challenging than many other Ryan Kisor compositions including others from "The Dream" album. It's broken up with some slick rhythm section hits in the last two measures, in dialogue with the melody. There is an eight-measure intro, with a variation of the melody riff; this section is also played as an interlude before the first solo, and again after the out head.
On this recording Kisor uses a Harmon mute throughout.
According to the album"s liner notes, Ryan Kisor named this song for himself—"Bert" is short for his middle name, Gilbert. For another mute feature from "The Dream" check out Deception, on which Ryan plays using a cup mute.
Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander plays on one track on "The Dream." This is one of the few recordings Ryan and Eric have played on together; they have also recorded with organists Melvin Rhyne and Sam Yahel as well as drummer Craig Wuepper.
Perhaps best known for his work with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Ryan Kisor is an accomplished trumpeter and one of the rising names on the jazz scene. Firmly rooted in the post-bop tradition, Ryan has obviously done a lot of listening to giants like Clifford Brown and Booker Little and Woody Shaw. Of course, he's also been influenced by contemporary mentors including Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, both masters of the art of great trumpet playing. Read more...
