Audio Review: Sunflower Song by Brian Scarborough

Sunflower Song (2020)
Outside in Music
Brian Scarborough, Trombone
Matt Otto, Tenor Saxophone
Adam Schlozman, Guitar
Jeff Harshbarger, Bass
Brian Steever, Drums

Brian Scarborough, a Kansas City-based trombonist and composer, has been in the Midwest scene for a number of years with performing in the Kansas City area in high school, furthering his musical studies in Chicago, then returning to Kansas City in 2015. His debut solo album Sunflower Song is a reflection of that vast landscape that is the Heartland of the United States.

Starting with the title track “This One’s For John” the quintet enters with a slow groove that transitions into a double-quick feel with the tenor sax then pulling back the reins for the trombone solo to engage in lyrical expression. The second track on the album “Ok, Here We Go” seems to struggle, at first, to find its center of groove with the tenor sax and trombone splitting into a melody/counter-melody parts. Once the tenor sax solo begins, the quintet finds its foundation for forward motion.

“City Lights” is a track that hints at the stop-and-go of the nightlife in a major city. The hits and precise pointedness successfully portray the frantic bustling of city life. As we enter into the title track “Sunflower Song,” the double bass gives off a slow but powerful groove that depicts a tall sunflower plant lazily beating to the rhythm of a hot, summer breeze. It is on this track that Scarborough’s compositional writing really showcases his unique, musical voice.

Going into the fifth track, “The Owl” sketches a gentle, subtle image that organically grows into a bigger sound. While the next track “Tick Tock” lays down a triple-beat feel, it is in this rhythmic verve that Scarborough plays his best solo. Occupying a similar mood to the previous tracks, the listener starts to here Scarborough’s creative playing and writing breathing into the life of hard work with modest flair.

As the seventh track is up-tempo, “I Tolerate You” engages with a quicker speed that we haven’t heard on the rest of the album. With a wonderful bass solo by Jeff Harshbarger, Scarborough pulls out the mute for the horn and effortlessly sings through the instrument. The penultimate track of “Willard’s Blues” encapsulates the other tracks by showing that this debut album is not a crazy, over-the-top “look at the many styles I can play!” kind of album. Rather (and thankfully), it travels down the middle of the road and unexpectedly leads to a wonderful destination that takes you through complex writing with beautiful voicing. The final track of “Empty Bottles” is clearly the quickest tune of the album with a great positive sendoff for this first of hopefully many solo albums by Scarborough.

Through Sunflower Song, Scarborough exhibits unique compositional writing with great, executed performance. While steadily moving from track to track, the entire album organically evolves from start to finish, ultimately leaving you with miles of beautiful, peaceful, open scenery. Even though the album may not have the energy of the East Coast or the pizzazz of the West Coast, Scarborough puts forth a strong sample of imagery through sound that allows this music to proudly stand on its own.

Tracklist:

• This One’s for John
• Ok, Here We Go
• City Lights
• Sunflower Song
• The Owl
• Tick Tock
• I Tolerate You
• Willard’s Blues
• Empty Bottles

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