Joe Chambers - Mirrors (Blue Note, 1998)

Joe Chambers, drums & vibes
Eddie Henderson, trumpet
Vincent Herring, tenor & soprano saxes
Mulgrew Miller, piano
Ira Coleman, bass

Recorded July 7 & 8, 1998

Sound on Sound, NYC

Engineer: David Baker

Joe Chambers is one of the most lyrical drummers I have ever heard. He also plays vibes and piano and composes memorable pieces: a complete musician. On Mirrors, he leads a sextet of sophisticated boppers who all rise to the occasion to make a late 1990s Blue Note album truly special. 

Chambers composes all but two of the tracks on Mirrors. “Caravanserai” is my favorite of the originals. Its North African theme conjures visions of ancient desert culture, echoing the imagery of his earlier album The Almoravid (Muse, 1974), named after a medieval Berber dynasty. Other originals show Chambers’ talent for complex rhythms (“Tu‑Way‑Pock‑E‑Way”), balladry (“Ruth”), and modal composition (“Mirrors”).

The most pleasant surprises on Mirrors are the inclusion of two classic R&B hits: Michael Jackson's "Lady in My Life" and Janet Jackson's "Come Back to Me". The two covers are not misguided attempts at crossover fusion but rather demonstrations of jazz's huge capacity for interpretation. Their inclusion raises the whole album to the highest level.

Chambers plays vibes on "Lady in My Life," which give the tune a new identity for jazz audiences. I do not miss the lyrics, proving that composer Rod Temperton was not a lyrics-only songwriter. His melody and chord changes turn "Lady in My Life" into the classic it has become.

"Come Back to Me" offers the horns a chance to channel their inner R&B instincts. Vincent Herring's soprano sets the proper mood, sustained by Mulgrew Miller and Eddie Henderson in their solos. 

The closing number, "Ruthless," is a showcase for Miller's extended piano solo, followed by a tasty bass solo from Ira Coleman, some trading of fours with Chambers, and a satisfying return to the opening riff.