AfroPhysicist

Trumpeter Theo Croker comes by his instrument naturally, being a grandson of the legendary Doc Cheatham. Croker’s third album opens with a solo tribute to Cheatham and then moves into electric groove jazz and rock, with a horn section filling out the background. While the band assembled here play with a mix of muscle and funk, there are also some noteworthy guests. Album producer Dee Dee Bridgewater sings on Buddy Johnson’s “Save Your Love for Me,” a Latin version of the Michael Jackson tune “I Can’t Help It,” and a straight-ahead but brief run-through of “Moody’s Mood for Love.” Elsewhere, vibraphonist Stefon Harris joins in on the simmering “Visions,” and Roy Hargrove sings his composition “Roy Allan,” with a smooth R&B vibe created by Croker’s arrangement.  Croker stands out on the hard-hitting funk original “Realize” and the Afro-funk of “It’s Not You It’s Me (But You Didn’t Help),” with him sounding great on mute. Wholly modern but grounded in tradition, this would make granddad proud.

Theo Croker's third full-length album, the Dee Dee Bridgewater-produced Afro Physicist, is an ambitious, stylistically wide-ranging album that showcases the jazz trumpeter's soulful post-bop chops, sophisticated arranging skills, and adventurous compositional style.