Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band: Lab 2013

3

University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band: Lab 2013

By

Sign in to view read count
University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band: Lab 2013
The University of North Texas is situated in Denton, a city of roughly 120,000 less than an hour's drive northwest from Dallas / Fort Worth. To students at UNT as well as its year-round residents, Denton is home, even if in the former case a home away from home. And speaking of home, the university is home to the country's oldest and most celebrated Jazz Studies program, anchored by the superlative One O'Clock Lab Band whose members are special and whose alumni comprise a who's who of top-rank professional jazz musicians. To honor their adopted home, the One O'Clock Band and director Steve Wiest have dedicated their annual Lab recording for 2013 to the city of Denton, performing compositions and arrangements designed to underscore the singular ambience and charm of what is known to them as "Jazz Town U.S.A."

Each of the songs was composed and / or arranged by students or faculty members, all of them with Denton in mind. Wiest wrote "Denton Standard Time," former director Neil Slater "Will or Would?," which he says is "a disguised variation of [his] home street address in Denton." Tenor saxophonist Aaron Hedenstrom furnished two songs, "Old West" and "Honeybee," complementing trumpeter Keith Karns' "Somewhere on the 33rd Parallel" and "The [town] Square" and trombonist Jenny Kellogg's graphic rush-hour "Traffic Jam." To reach Denton, one can apparently board Billy Strayhorn's venerable "A Train," whose buoyant ride from Harlem to deep in the heart of Texas has been carefully charted by faculty member Rich DeRosa. Rounding out the program is another standard, Herman Hupfeld's "As Time Goes By," whose tasteful arrangement by Drew Zaremba denotes Denton's transitory nature as a college town.

As this is the One O'Clock Band, the assumption is that awareness and musicianship will be exemplary, a theory that is borne out on every number. The ensemble is tight as a sailor's knot, the soloists generally diligent and resourceful. Hedenstrom solos neatly on "33rd Parallel" and (with tenor Nick Salvucci) on "Standard Time," Kellogg and Karns on "Parallel," alto Alex Fraile on "A Train," Salvucci and trumpeter Stuart Mack on "Will Or Would?," alto Devin Eddleman and trumpeter Preston Haining on "Traffic Jam." Pianist Addison Frei pleases twice, on "A Train" and "The Square." Baritone Spenser Liszt is handsomely showcased on "As Time Goes By," drummer Matt Young on "Honeybee." Young, Frei, guitarist Scott Neary and bassist Young Heo comprise an admirable rhythm section.

Analysis aside, all that needs to be known is that this is the One O'Clock Lab Band at its music-making best. Enough said.

Track Listing

Take the “A” Train; Old West; Somewhere on the 33rd Parallel; Denton Standard Time; As Time Goes By; Will or Would?; The Square; Honeybee; Traffic Jam.

Personnel

Steve Wiest: director; Chad Willis: trumpet; Robby Yarber: trumpet; Preston Haining: trumpet; Keith Karns: trumpet; Stuart Mack: trumpet; Devin Eddleman: alto sax; Alex Fraile: alto sax; Aaron Hedenstrom: tenor sax; Nick Salvucci: tenor sax; Spenser Liszt: baritone sax; Isaac Washam: trombone; Jenny Kellogg: trombone; Julie Gray: trombone; Jon Gauer: bass trombone; Sean Casey: bass trombone; Addison Frei: piano; Scott Neary: guitar; Young Heo: bass; Matt Young: drums.

Album information

Title: Lab 2013 | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Unt Jazz

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.