When Kurt Elling collaborated in the studio with pianist Sullivan Fortner this past Monday, the music was so captivating that it demanded an immediate share. Aided by engineer Chris Allen, Elling flipped the results into Wildflower Vol 1., a six-song, surprise EP which was recorded, mixed, mastered and released to DSPs within a single work week. Listeners are not likely to feel a rush, but rather, a reward as this duo works through each of the tracks with careful, in-the-moment curation.
“The compressed collaborative process that led to this recording [also] led to many unexpected thrills,” Elling tells WRTI. Not having a concrete musical plan — not even a decided set of compositions (let alone any group rehearsal) — led to a play of kismet and serendipity. Thankfully Sullivan Fortner is exactly the dedicated musical genius I expected and needed him to be.”
Earlier this week, listeners of Evening Jazz on WRTI were treated to the national radio premiere of the Elling/Fortner version of “After The Storm,” a song by Mumford & Sons. As art mirrors culture, the duo’s thoughtful recasting centers on the song’s message of resilience and hope to overcome forces of adversity.
The diversity of Elling’s newest program, which also includes compositions from Wayne Shorter, Mercer Ellington, Michiel Borstlap and Fred Hersch, underscores his elasticity with Fortner, one of our music’s most adaptable and visionary improvisers. Each song is delivered with urgency across a wide dynamic range. Cécile McLorin Salvant, the only guest, continues in the flow as she and Elling reimagine “A Wish (Valentine),” one of Hersch’s most moody and cherished melodies (with Norma Winstone’s lyrics).
As Elling has toured primarily over the last two years with SuperBlue, the engaging groove ensemble with hybrid guitarist Charlie Hunter, Wildflowers Vol. 1 is a nice detour for some alternate expressions. Should schedules and availability allow a Volume 2, or an encounter on the concert stage, the Elling/Fortner team’s synergy and evolving musical library promises more musical memories for critical listeners everywhere.
