Anthology is featuring the Christian Scott Quintet tomorrow night in a concert that begins at 7:30. This is the kind of performance that makes this venue indispensable.

I saw Scott and his band at City College two years ago--and it was definitely one of the best concerts of 2010. There has been a grip of trumpeters coming out of New Orleans--especially in the last twenty years--but Scott is operating on a different aesthetic than most of them.

The nephew of saxophonist Donald Harrison, Scott received some deep early mentorship that prepared him well for his matriculation to the Berklee School of Music, where he earned two degrees in two years.

His playing left a lasting impression on legendary pianist McCoy Tyner, who often featured the young trumpeter on his own gigs.

Scott's band is one of the most high-functioning units in jazz today. They've been together for several years and their chemistry was obvious two years ago--I can only imagine how tight they are now. Guitarist Matt Stevens is a master of the legato style pioneered by giants like Pat Metheny and John Abercrombie, and drummer Jamire Williams is an explosive percussionist who performs with two-snare drums in a style that recalls Tony Williams. Bassist Kristopher Funn has a big sound and rock-solid time. Pianist Lawrence Fields is new to the group, (at least since the last time I saw them), but he sounds terrific on Scott's latest release, Christian a Tunde Adjuah which is also a name he selected for himself--a Tunde and Adjuah are two West African cities near Ghana.

The main thing I love about this guy is that he doesn't sound like anyone else playing the trumpet today.