When Christian Scott took the stage of the Jazz Tent during the 2006 Jazz Fest, the short trumpeter in the trim afro was wearing a white shirt and jacket, like so many young jazz musicians. His jacket, however, was a blinding, shimmering gold, more suitable for Little Richard than Wynton Marsalis. It was the kind
of rock 'n' roll twist on a jazz cliche that Scott brought to his music again and again.

He began the set by leading his quintet through the title track from his then recently re...