Review of “Planet Bluu” by T.K. Blue

T.K. Blue may be a new name to you, but if you’ve listened to Abdullah Ibrahim records in the late ’70s or Randy Weston in the 1980s, you’ve heard his saxophone and unfussy arrangements.

T.K. Blue’s Planet Bluu is a multigenerational affair. Veteran trombonist Steve Turre is here (underused), and so is his son, drummer Orion Turre. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., gifted with the impeccable jazz genes of Geri Allen and his father, makes a strong contribution.

The record showcases Blue’s skillful compositions and arrangements. Different styles are combined into seamless grooving wholes. “The Hue of Blue” juxtaposes angular bop with smooth samba. “Sky Bluu Part 2” kicks off an African rhythm with a subtle Latin feel, and I hear a bit of Cuban jump in the melody.

Standout arrangements include “Valley of the Bluu Rose,” which has horns trading fours at the start for a change. The melody is creative bop that inspires the soloists to stretch. “Chessman’s Delight” is an up-tempo, riff-based swinger with a Mingus-like feel. Orion Turre is fine on the drums, but you can tell he’s got a little ways to go.

Roney Jr. sounds more like Freddie Hubbard than his father’s mentor Miles Davis, spinning focused lines with confidence. Pianist Dave Kikoski can’t seem to settle down to one style — on some tracks he finds colorful chords to support the soloists, but on most other tracks he thunders in like McCoy Tyner and dominates where he should probably lay back.

Blue himself has a tart, unpolished tone and a straightforward melodic concept. He’s also a virtuoso on kalimba, a simple instrument that adds a surprising amount of sonic and rhythmic diversity in his hands.

Planet Bluu is a fun and engaging listen as the seasoned pros pass the tradition to the next generation.

(Originally published on The Arts Fuse, November 1, 2024)