In 2012, Jamison Ross won the prestigious Thelonius Monk International Jazz Competition, which was held for drummers that year. Winning this competition lands the champ a record deal with Concord Music Group, where the hottest new name in jazz gets to show off his (or her) chops that so impressed the Monk judges, with the resources and stature of a major jazz label behind this winner.
Ross, though, isn’t your typical jazz musician, even among the elite, lofty group that have won this coveted prize. Because, you see, Jamison is not just an excellent drummer, he’s an accomplished vocalist, too, and his debut album that was made possible by his drumming skills became largely a showcase for his singing skills. It’s a little bit of bait-and-switch, perhaps, but Ross isn’t intending to deceive anybody; in fact, he’s eager to show he’s got more going for him than just keeping time.
Jamison (June 23, 2015, Concord Music Group) seeks to show Ross as a multi-faceted artist, one you can drum, sing, interpret and compose and not stuck on one shade of jazz. He takes Muddy Water’s “Deep Down In Florida” and does so much with it: turn a blues into Big Easy reverie (this and all the other tracks were recorded in New Orleans, so perhaps the environs wore off on the musicians), meting out a second line beat with authority and singing the lyrics with soulful aplomb. He’s got Rick Lollar’s slide that gives the song some grease. Some funky, home-cooked piano from NOLA native and new Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste add still more spice. The peak when everyone lays out except for Ross’ nifty rim taps as he sings the last verse over it without a net and practically prances across the high wire.
