The Moontrane

After two ambitious but criminally-neglected albums in Blackstone Legacy and Song of Songs, trumpeter Woody Shaw moved to Muse Records for The Moontrane and began to finally garner accolades and a wider audience. He revisits the titular composition that first gained him renown (originally appearing on Larry Young’s classic Unity) and delivers a beautiful rendition here. His band – featuring three percussionists and bassists Buster Williams and Cecil McBee – stays grounded while allowing for many of Shaw’s thrilling, lyrical flights on trumpet. One of the greatest trumpeters of his generation, Shaw occupies the peculiar place of being revered by both the conservative Young Lions generation as well as oddball beatmakers like Madlib.