Beyond the Obvious (2006)

About this title: Russian expatriate Valery Ponomarev has been an impressive trumpeter from the time he arrived in the U.S. after fleeing his homeland. This 2005 session pairs him with several younger musicians, including seasoned tenor saxophonist Don Braden, bassist Martin Zenker, and Juilliard student Jerome Jennings, who the leader compares favorably with veteran drummers. With Braden stuck in traffic, Ponomarev improvised a blues to warm up with the others and ended up with the peppy opener "You Dig, I Hear You, You Know What I Mean, Etc." The trumpeter makes use of the full range of his instrument in his ... read more

Tracks:

1. You Dig, I Hear You, You Know What I Mean, Etc. [Ponovarev]
2. Close Your Eyes [Petkere]
3. Party Time [Morgan]
4. The Blessing [Coleman]
5. From Cat to Nat [Ponomarev]
6. Sale on Love [Ponomarev]
7. Chelsea Bridge [Strayhorn]
8. Gina's Cooking [Ponomarev]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.