University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of MSU Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker is not only a dedicated teacher, he is a prolific performer, composer, and recording artist. On his latest release, he teams up for the second time with Lansing-based composer Gregg Hill to feature 11 Hill compositions. This introductory piece is compiled from promotional materials when the recording was released in 2021.
University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass Rodney Whitaker, here with Associate Professor of Jazz Piano Xavier Davis, records and performs regularly in addition to teaching and responsibilities as Director of Jazz Studies. (Photo by Harley Seeley)
The charismatic performances that distinguish Outrospection: The Music of Gregg Hill center on the 11 expressive compositions from Gregg Hill, an under-the-radar composer of imagination and emotional depth.
Renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker first recognized Hill’s music several years ago, and soon after, they teamed up for the 2018 release, “Common Ground.”
Warmth and humanity resonate throughout this new recording, grown out of their friendship, two men of disparate generations and backgrounds who found each other through the music.
“We both know how to listen,” Whitaker reflects. “Our common ground is the music. It’s really the great neutralizer.”
Rodney Whitaker’s 2021 release is his second collaboration with Lansing-based composer Gregg Hill.
The exceptional musicians joining Whitaker include Xavier Davis (piano), Randy Gelispie and Dana Hall (drums), Michael Dease (trombone), Diego Rivera and Marcus Elliot (saxophone), Etienne Charles (trumpet), Randy Napoleon (guitar), and Rockelle Whitaker who contributes lyrics and vocals to four of Hill’s compositions.
The release has impressed reviewers. George W. Harris of Jazz Weekly writes, “Music like this makes you want to know these guys better, and dig deeper into Hill’s catalogue.”
Recorded during the COVID-19 lockdowns with each musician in a separate booth for safety, there is a surprising cohesion to the recording. It is a testament to the leadership of Whitaker and the abilities of the individual musicians and recording engineers.
“Hill has managed to gather all his collective musical experiences and harness them into a definable compositional style which blazes the trail with remnants of classic jazz composition synthesized with his modernist leanings,” writes Paul Rauch of All About Jazz. “He is positioned well with the likes of Whitaker, a master of convening the right crew, and exacting the perfect vibe, into any project he chooses to undertake.”
The results are uplifting and well worth the listen.
