(Skiptone Music)

The Poet ,the third release from Chicago-based trumpet and flugelhorn player Marquis Hill, brims with a raw energy and power that is exciting to hear. The 26-year old Hill brings a new voice to the genre that is really welcomed. The music grooves, swings and soothes;  this is not only due to Hill’s skill on the horn, but his fantastic compositional talents, as he wrote most of the package’s tunes. The music is further enhanced by outstanding contributions from the lineup of talents heard here, including vibraphonist Justin Thomas, saxophonist Christopher McBride, bassist Joshua Ramos, drummer Makaya McCracken and pianist Josh Moshier. There are also spoken word pieces to bookend the project delivered by Mary E. Lawson and Keith Winford, respectively. This is a tremendous project from an artist that deserves serious recognition and rotation.