The tautological title of Birth of a Revival- a new four-track EP issued under the auspices of the Mutual Musicians Foundation- is dubious. The summit of five prominent musicians produces the established sound of Kansas City jazz in 2026.
Trumpeter Chalis O'Neal, saxophonist Ernest Melton, keyboardist Desmond Mason, bassist DeAndre Manning and drummer Tyree Johnson play with their usual hip-hop-informed panache as Blue Devil Revival.
Listeners are encouraged to disregard the nonsensical marketing tagline in the project’s social media advertisements: “This is not a reenactment. It is a revival.” The energetic Birth of a Revival is a worthwhile reiteration.