by Maeri Ferguson
The Horn
October 2014

The Marsalis’s are practically the royal family of the New Orleans jazz world, with brothers Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and the youngest, James, a prodigal drummer. Now, James Marsalis is carrying the torch with his Vibes Quartet on a new record entitled The 21st Century Trad Band (Trad Jazz is a traditional, ragtime style of jazz). Marsalis hands the drumsticks to Dave Potter, as he takes on the unique and frenetic vibraphones alongside bandmates Austin Johnson (piano) and Will Goble (bass). Songs like “Blues for Now” is mellow and chilled out, with an underlying chaos and ominous tone, while “Discipline Meets the Offbeat One” has a dreamy, manic, totally insane vibraphone solo that’s so layered and rich, it will make you want to just listen with your eyes closed so there are no distractions.