Marshall Gilkes: The Crossover

The contrast between this track's introduction ("Crossover Intro") and body couldn't be more stark. For a little over two minutes, leader Marshall Gilkes explores various textures and wide-ranging melodies (I love solo trombone, with notes so low you can almost see them), with shadows of themes to come entering and leaving. When we slide into "The Crossover" proper, Gilkes cranks up the swing and we're off. The way the changes flow is very reminiscent of "Giant Steps." What sets the track apart from a Young Lions-type thing is the cool use of unison lines this is done to introduce the first solo segment and then again after Jon Cowherd's piano solo, this time revisiting Gilkes's opening theme before the close. All told, a really well-constructed composition that makes great use of melodic contour, tension and unbridled swing.