Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Darrell Katz and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra: ...
Darrell Katz and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra: A Wallflower In The Amazon
ByRebecca Shrimpton delivers a beautiful vocal performance on Duke Ellington's "I Like the Sunrise," interweaving her voice with Natalie Dietrich's subtle vibraphone, as well as with the more assertive horn section. Her other performances require her to sing the lyrics of Paula Tatarunis; it's not easy, and Shrimpton often struggles with the task. "For Our Sins" works fine; the short and relatively straightforward lyric has a clear, if rather downbeat, message; but the other songs fare far less well.
"Visiting My Aunties" has a great arrangement from Katz, but the lyrical conceitthe Aunties are not favorite relatives, but a succession of "antis," including anti-toxins, anti-social, anti-thesis and even anti-disestablishmentarianismis weak. The lyrics to "A Wallflower in the Amazon" are particularly convoluted and obfuscationist, and Shrimpton struggles, forgivably, to deliver lines like "Even the shadows were sphinctered." By contrast, organist Mike Finnigan makes the most of the sharp, image-laden lyrics on Willie Dixon's classic "Hoochie Coochie Man" and Big Maceo Merriweather's "Tuff Luck Blues," with some suitably rough-edged and entertaining vocals.
The album is much more consistent musically than lyrically, thanks, in the main, to some excellent solos. "Tuff Luck Blues" features suitably atmospheric solos from Finnigan on Hammond B3, Mike Peipman on trumpet and Alan Chase on alto sax; David Harris' trombone solo on "It Brings New Hope They Say" is loud, brash and hugely enjoyable; Bill Lowe delivers a richly-toned and dexterous tuba piece on "All Bark and No Bite." Drummer Pablo Bencid and bassist Alex Smith don't get the chance to step into the spotlight, but they are consistently excellent, ensuring that the lead instruments have a solid rhythmic base.
A Wallflower In The Amazon succeeds as a recording through the strengths of the musicians and Katz's arrangements. The original songs, however, compare unfavorably to the work of Ellington and Dixon, and diminish the album's impacta pity, because there is plenty of fine musicianship to enjoy.
Track Listing
I Like the Sunrise (It Brings New Hope They Say / I Hope It Likes Poor Me); Red Blue; A Wallflower in the Amazon (Aromatic Raptures Of Volume / The Vanishing Point); Hoochie Coochie Man / All Bark and No Bite; Visiting My Aunties (A Classical Freudian Hysteric / I Promise I Will Never Laugh Again); Tuff Luck Blues; For Our Sins; The Red Blues.
Personnel
Darrell Katz
composer / conductorDarrell Katz: arranger and conductor; Hiro Honshuku: flute, EWI; Alan Chase: alto sax; Jim Hobbs: alto sax; Phil Scarf: tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet; Melanie Howell: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Mike Peipman: trumpet; Gary Bohan: trumpet; Bill Fanning: trumpet; Justin Stanley: French horn (1, 2, 6, 7, 10); Ron Wold: French horn (3-5, 8, 9, 11); David Harrris: trombone; Bob Pilkington: trombone; Bill Lowe: tuba; Natalie Dietrich: vibraphone; Norm Zacher: guitar; Johnny Lee Schell: guitar (10); Tom Hojnacki: piano; Pablo Bencid: drums; Ricardo Monzon: percussion; Alex Smith: bass; Rebecca Shrimpton: vocals; Mike Finnigan: Hammond, vocals (6, 7, 10); Taki Musoko: marimba (4, 5); Jeff Huggins: alto saxophone (12); Daniel Ian Smith: alto saxophone (12); Phil Scarff: tenor saxophone (12); Dan Bosshardt: baritone saxophone (12).
Album information
Title: A Wallflower In The Amazon | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Accurate Records
Comments
About Darrell Katz
Instrument: Composer / conductor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To