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The Ratchet Orchestra: Hemlock
ByTwo YouTube videos show the recording process of "Kick" and the title tune, and the vibe that comes from everybody being in the same room at the same time is apparent. It's a dilemma, no doubt, to determine how to evenly share the load and give everybody a chance to shine. While there are no consistently featured players, the division of labor is balanced and intricate, showing that Caloia has a firm grasp on getting the best out of his players.
What was expected from a bassist-led large ensemble was typical big band, and while there's much of that, what is particularly enticing are the occasional sounds from fusion- era big bands such as bassist Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouthhigh- pitched woodwind ornamentation, strings, electric piano-type soundson "Willow" and "Wish pt.2." "Dusty" provides the best example of "motion in one direction," driven by a plinking rhythm with a quirky and fuzzed guitar solo adding the cherry on a great song. "Safety" provides a nice contrast by starting off with a slow tempo that picks up, but unfortunately gets a little ponderous in the middle. "Hemlock, pt.1" and "Hemlock, pt.2" creatre a great closer"pt.1" opening with staccato notes pitting against levels of shifting tones, while in "pt. 2," things get noisy and tumultuous.
Track Listing
Winnow; Dusty; Yield; Wish pt.1; Wish pt.2; Kick; Safety; Hemlock pt. 1; Hemlock pt. 2.
Personnel
Gordon Allen: trumpet; Phil Battikha: trumpet; Michel Bonneau: congas; Chris Burns: guitar; Nicolas Caloia: bass; Cristopher Cauley: soprano saxophone; Isaiah Ceccarelli: drums; Noah Countability: sousaphone; Brigitte Dajczer: violin; Guido Del Fabbro: violin; Jean Derome: flute, Bass flute, piccolo; Craig Dionne: flute; Ken Doolittle: percussion; Guillaume Dostaler: piano; Lori Freedman: clarinet; Gen Heistek: viola; Jacques Gravel: trombone; John Heward: drums; Norsola Johnson: cello; Gordon Krieger: bass clarinet; Eric Lewis: euphonium; Damian Nisenson: tenor saxophone; Thea Pratt: e-flat horn; Jean René: viola; Gabriel Rivest: Tuba; Louisa Sage: alto saxophone; Sam Shalabi: guitar; Jason Sharp: bass saxophone; Scott Thomson: trombone; Tom Walsh: trombone; Josh Zubot: violin.
Album information
Title: Hemlock | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Drip Audio