Chalis O'Neal raps that his music is “hip-hop meets swing with a little bebop” on The Influence. The Kansas City trumpeter’s new album has a bass-heavy mix that might please fans of Lil Baby but would horrify the mainstream jazz audience.
The oppressively leaden sound field smothers O’Neal and his locally based collaborators. Saxophonist Ernest Melton, keyboardist Desmond Mason, bassist Nsikoh Bébé Làlà and drummer Jaylen Ward are far more vibrant in live settings.
The powerhouse band is further hampered by a brutal song selection. Opening with “Misty” and closing with “Cherokee,” The Influence is a dreary compendium of overplayed jazz standards and tired pop hits. The omission of “My Funny Valentine” and “Uptown Funk” is a saving grace.
“The Terminator” is the freshest track. Each man’s aggressive solo is unencumbered by an enervated melody. Yet what sounds corny on a recording can kill in a club. O’Neal and his cohorts are best experienced live.