Assembled as a tie-in to the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the group has an album, Mosaic, featuring new versions of classic tunes from the labels catalog. And this weeks run concludes a tour that began at the start of this year, hitting 50 cities across the country. Theres reason to trust that the ensemble a coalition of bandleaders, almost to a man has established its own sound and footing.
Thats largely true, judging by its animated late set on Tuesday. Beginning and ending strong, with just a momentary lull in between, the The Blue Note 7 fulfilled its mandate with precision and more than a whiff of style. There were good, bracing solos all around, especially by the trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. The rhythm section, led by the pianist Bill Charlap, worked impeccably.
Still, there was a hint of creative constraint to the bands output, which may have had little to do with the musicians themselves. While the recorded legacy of Blue Note reaches back 70 years, the set spanned only a decade, with songs that originally appeared on records between 1958 and 1967. You can hardly fault a decision to focus on the labels commercial and creative heyday, but it seems to have placed a rigid grid on the group.
The Blue Note 7 performs through Sunday at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton; (212) 581-3080
