In jazz, the concept of lineage isn’t just about who taught you scales or called your first tune on the bandstand. It’s a living, breathing current that flows through mentors, ensembles, solos, and standards. Saxophonist Sharel Cassity channels it all with radiant clarity on her 2025 release, Gratitude (Sunnyside Records). This is Cassity celebrating the people who shaped her and the joy of finding one’s voice within a communal tradition.
From the first notes of the opener, “Magnetism,” Cassity stakes her claim in the modernist alto tradition, her phrasing modern and articulate, her tone steeped in the Bird-to-Woods lineage but inflected with her own lyricism. The rhythm section on the album is bassist Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash, and pianist Cyrus Chestnut. They lock into feels with an effortless energy, propelling her forward with a kinetic undercurrent that feels in the pocket and deeply in-the-moment. It’s a fitting first statement for a record that invites listeners into a world of deep musical empathy and hard-earned exuberance.
Cassity’s rendition of “Smile,” reimagined from a solo reharmonization she developed during an artist residency, is tender and resonant. Her alto voice sings with expressive vibrato and nuanced articulations, hinting at the influence of tenor giants like Lester Young and Coltrane. It’s a performance that blurs the line between laughter and tears, lifting the sentiment of Chaplin’s melody into the realm of personal testimony.
“Stick Up!” and “Suspect,” penned by pianist Richard D. Johnson, introduce bright rhythmic settings and nimble ensemble interplay. Michael Dease (trombone) and Terell Stafford (trumpet) trade join Cassity, blending into tightly voiced horn passages and stepping forward with fire during their solos. The rhythm section remains unshakable, McBride’s bass lines snap with clarity, Nash’s cymbal phrasing breathes, and Chestnut lays down chords that ripple with gospel and blues. Chestnut’s solos are also a treat of elegance.
The album’s title track, “Gratitude,” begins simply but grows into a celebration of modern jazz authority. Composed in reflection of Cassity’s mentor Jimmy Heath, the tune carries his spirit: full of warmth, uplift, and subtle resolve. Cassity’s solo here is reflective of her phrasing ability, as each line feels like the next logical melody.
“Kenny’s Quest” nods to the fierce creativity of Kenny Garrett, one of Cassity’s acknowledged influences. The tune brims with angular lines and elastic phrasing, yet it never loses its groove. The band’s agility here is especially notable; they shift textures with the ease of a seasoned combo, letting the tune unfold organically.
Closing the album are “The Promise” and “In The Spirit.” The former is a maternal benediction, inspired by a pinky promise to her young son. It’s lyrical and restrained, Cassity’s alto floating over a tender harmonic cushion. The latter is an exclamation point of joy in a send-off that encapsulates the album’s ethos: to play with integrity, to honor the lineage, and to bring something unmistakably your own.
Throughout Gratitude, Cassity achieves a rare feat: honoring the tradition without ever sounding boxed in by it. Her sound is distinctive, her tone has a vocal quality that is expressive and grounded. She is unafraid to quote the canon, yet never feels derivative. Rather, each musical gesture is contextualized through experience, pedagogy, and personality.
What elevates this album is the sheer cohesion of the ensemble and the clarity of its intention. Recorded with the very rhythm section that first inspired her on McBride’s Gettin’ to It, the project comes full circle. It’s a gathering of mentors, collaborators, and friends to create a musical convening in the spirit of shared gratitude.
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