Blue Note Records has released Motion II by Out Of/Into featuring pianist Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer. The all-star collective—which was initially founded as the Blue Note Quintet in celebration of the label’s 85th anniversary—is a profound embodiment of the label’s ethos, presenting state-of-the-art music and musicians while also honoring Blue Note’s rich legacy. Or as Ross puts it, “The way the collective keeps the Blue Note legacy going is by unapologetically being true to ourselves.”
The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2024 debut Motion I is a 2nd album of music drawn from the inspired recording sessions that took place in the midst of the group’s anniversary tour. The set presents six band member originals that point emphatically towards the future of jazz. Each composition was thoroughly explored and developed during nearly 40 live engagements at some of the nation’s finest concert halls.
“With such a long time on the road, it was really nice to reach as far as possible,” says Wilkins. Adds Clayton, “We pushed one another to reach further and dig deeper night after night. Over the course of two months, the music expanded in all directions. Things grew both tighter and looser. So much talent and creativity was on that bandstand.”
The release of Motion I was met with wide critical acclaim with DownBeat praising how the “quintet explores new dimensions of post-bop, sumptuous melodies, muscular improvisation and dynamic musicality.” MOJO raved that “this soulful five-way marries Gerald Clayton’s vivid, painterly piano with Immanuel Wilkins’ malleable alto sax and vibraphonist Joel Ross’s heady melodicism, its internal poetry enhanced by Kendrick Scott’s sophisticated drums and Matt Brewer’s intricate bass. They move freely around each other, tracing story arcs with breadth and grace.”
