[Cover photo credit to Justin Bettman]
Drummer and composer Kendrick Scott has announced the March 3rd, 2023 release of Corridors, his third album for Blue Note Records, and first compositional treatment of trio context with saxophone, bass, and drums. The follow-up to A Wall Becomes A Bridge, Scott’s 2019 release with his band Oracle, Corridors includes collaboration with saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Reuben Rogers. The lead single “What Day Is It?” has been released ahead of the album.
Originally commissioned by Rio Sakairi for The Jazz Gallery’s 2020 Artist Fellowship Series, Corridors features eight original compositions and one new arrangement of a tune from the Bobby Hutcherson canon (“Isn’t This My Sound Around Me?”).
According to Scott, the record focuses on “posing outward questions instead of inward contemplation”.
He explains:
I often write about something that I’m going through, but for this record I wanted to zoom out from my perspective and instead, try to deal with everyone’s. The pandemic forced everyone to deal with the shadows they had been running from.
Scott adds, concerning working with a trio for the album:
One of my strengths is creating a harmonic space for groups. And the trio afforded me even more space so I too could be freer to interpret all the layers. Reuben navigates the world in such a genuine and loving way and his playing is a reflection of that. He’s the glue element — grounding and uplifting. And Walter has this sound that’s always been so beautiful and inspiring to me. Of my peers, Walter’s always been a guiding light.
