Sound Travels

iTunes Review

Jack DeJohnette is one of the greatest drummers of the last half-century. His distinctive playing can lean in different directions: you can hear swing, funk, rock, and other styles. In 2012, he released Sound Travels, an album that’s effortlessly eclectic and features an interesting mix of guests. It’s bookended by two tracks, “Enter Here” and “Home,” which feature DeJohnette alone at the piano, his first instrument. “Salsa for Luisito” spotlights percussionist Luisito Quintero, the vocals of bassist Esperanza Spalding, and Lionel Loueke’s unmistakable guitar. (And check out DeJohnette’s soulful Latin piano chops!) “Dirty Ground” is something else—a funky rock track that nods toward Levon Helm and The Band. Bruce Hornsby turns in a good vocal performance, and there’s nice work from Loueke and Tim Ries on soprano sax. “Sonny Light” is a tribute to Sonny Rollins and the tenor saxophonist’s love of calypsos, while “Indigo Dreamscape” (which originally appeared on 1990’s Parallel Realities) finds Jason Moran on piano.