Live at The Keystone Korner – Keystone Trumpet Project

Label: Summit Records

Release date: March '26

Catalog number: 849

Tracks:

	Seize Every Day comp: Rex Richardson
	Old School comp: Dave Ballou
	Up, Over, and Out comp: Hank Mobley
	Blues in Brown comp: Dave Ballou
	Peanuts n' Ice Cream comp: Rex Richardson
	Red Shift comp: Rex Richardson

Trumpets: Dave Ballou, Sean Jones, Rex Richardson – Three critically acclaimed trumpet players on a dynamic live performance!

GENRE: Jazz
COMPOSERS: Rex Richardson, Dave Ballou, Hank Mobley

Recorded live in performance April 23 and 24, 2025 at Keystone Korner Baltimore – This is a spectacular Jazz performance infused with a passionate energy guaranteed to please the listener!

Personnel:
Trumpets: Dave Ballou, Sean Jones, Rex Richardson

Piano: Richard Johnson
Bass: Blake Meister
Drums: Eric Kennedy

Trumpets in mix:
Dave Ballou (left channel)
Sean Jones (right channel)
Rex Richardson (center)

This project had its origins in 2023, when Sean Jones and Rex Richardson performed together in western Michigan. Feeling the energy, the two wanted to play together again, perhaps in Sean’s adopted hometown of Baltimore. Then Richardson recalled that Dave Ballou, whom he’d known and admired since they were together in NYC in the ’90s, also lived in Baltimore.

All three were excited at the chance to play together, so they reached out to Todd Barkan, the veteran impresario and owner of the Keystone Korner Baltimore. They recruited a dynamite Baltimore rhythm section and played two nights in June of 2024, and the Keystone Trumpet Project was born.

The experience was so memorable that Ballou suggested they do it again, and this time, record an album! Fast forward to April of 2025. They arranged some of their originals for three trumpets, chose some other favorites, and recorded for two nights. Soon thereafter, they chose a handful of their favorite takes, and an album came together.

The three musicians have varying but overlapping backgrounds, and the mutual respect and enjoyment shone through every track. Add the tremendous artistry of Richard Johnson, Blake Meister, and Eric Kennedy, and you have an incredible collaboration with a tremendous result!

REVIEW:

Rex knew that Sean Jones (a Detroiter who had relocated to Baltimore, MD) was in the same city where a good friend of his lived. Horn player, Dave Ballou, also a resident of Baltimore, joined their dream team after the three trumpeters all expressed interest in performing together.

Soon after, they reached out to Todd Barkan, veteran impresario and owner of the Keystone Korner Baltimore (originally from the Keystone Korner San Francisco). Barkan was interested! They set up a date to perform at his club in June of 2024 where this dream project came alive. A year later, they returned to perform and record an album.

They open with the Rex Richardson composition, “Seize Every Day.” It enters as a slow swing with a catchy melody. Each trumpeter takes an opportunity to solo and each introduces their individual tone and talent.

Dave Ballou has written track #2 titled “Old School.” The introduction by pianist Richard Johnson and bassist Blake Meister sets the tone for this slow bluesy tune. The harmonics of the three trumpets is lovely and nostalgic. Something about this arrangement reminds me of the 1930s, Minnie the Moocher days.

They cover the Hank Mobley tune, “Up, Over, and Out” that picks up the tempo and strongly swings across my listening room. The trumpet solos are dynamic and full of excitement and passion. I didn’t feel that so much from the rhythm section, with the exception of Eric Kennedy’s flamboyant drums that inspired each soloist. During this high energy presentation, Blake Meister was brightly featured on bass.

Richardson’s tune “Peanuts N’ Ice Cream” is a delicious slow swing tune. This quickly becomes one of my favorite tunes on this album. Richard Johnson offers an impressive piano solo during this arrangement, as does drummer, Eric Kennedy.

This is a fresh, exciting approach to spotlighting three extraordinary trumpeters. They fit together like ice cream and cake; cool, sweet and delightfully celebratory.

– Dee Dee McNeil

Live at The Keystone Korner – Keystone Trumpet Project

Tracks:

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