With a career spanning nearly two decades, you’ve probably heard of bassist and composer Dezron Douglas by now. Douglas was a prominent part of Makaya McCraven’s Universal Beings last year, Nextbop’s favorite album of 2018, and has appeared on other albums by the likes of Glenn Zaleski, Duane Eubanks, J. D. Allen, and Cyrus Chestnut, without mentioning stage appearances alongside Pharoah Sanders, Al Foster, Ravi Coltrane, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Garrett, Steve Coleman and many more. More recently, Douglas was featured on Beyoncé’s viral sensation documentary Homecoming, near the hour and forty-minute mark, alongside harpist Brandee Younger performing a duo rendition of the song “Hortense”, a piece they co-wrote together. With already six albums under his belt, Douglas released his latest studio recording last December titled Black Lion featuring his eponymously named sextet comprised of Stacy Dillard and Lummie Spann on saxophones, Josh Evans on trumpet, David Bryant and Willerm Delisfort on piano and organ and Jeremy “BEAN” Clemons on drums.
Black Lion is a stellar work which showcases true maturity, exudes genuine confidence and provides for an exciting and fulfilling listening experience. The horn trio of Dillard, Spann, and Evans emblazes each composition with flare and bravado resulting in a charged and uplifting outing. This is without saying that the sextet as whole shines of its own merit and that cohesion and synergy are at the forefront of each performance. You can stream Black Lion’s lead single, “Soulris”, below which is also featured on Brandee Younger’s June 7th release, Soul Awakening, produced by Douglas. While you’re at it, grab a copy of the EP on Douglas’ Bandcamp and note that he will be performing at Ginny’s Supper Club in New York on May 31 with his sextet.
Black Lion, the new EP by bassist Dezron Douglas and his Black Lion sextet is out now.