Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » Hazel Leach: Free Range Music
Hazel Leach: Free Range Music
ByAbout the COB, Leach writes, "The music written for the band would have no exclusion zones. The mandate would be to combine elements from all possible styles to create music that is truly 'free range,' and to have that music performed by imaginative and creative players." Mission accomplished. The music herein, much of which would be better described by other musicians, is both inclusive and unfetterednot to mention quite demanding, for players and listeners alike. It starts with one of Leach's two compositions, "Spinoff," a relatively sedate and melodic theme that brings to the fore Martin Klenk's deep-voiced cello and Meike Goosmann's mellow soprano sax. As everything here is thematic, based on events, impressions or emotions, Leach's second piece, "Postcard No. 1," she writes, is the first in a series "exploring the apparently inexhaustible rhythmic possibilities of the waltz." Well, "Postcard" may be in ¾ time (that's presumably a given) but it's a sure bet it wouldn't be miscounted for something a member of the Strauss family may have written, even though it does have an explicit waltz-like ambiance.
The other themes, each of which gives free rein to the composer's imagination, range from Oleg Hollmann's assertive "Synthadventures of a Spacehero" to Christian Korthals' graphic "Berlin," the second movement of a suite for big band. In between are Susanne Paul's seductive "Mata Hari," Alexander Tzschentke's audacious "Kleiner Stau," Strakhof's prismatic "Belphegor," Horst Nonnemacher's reverential "Oracao," Ruth Schepers' bellicose "Totales Tanzverbot" and Fee Stracke's freewheeling "Zamboni." While there are solos, this is by and large a composer's enterprise, with the ensemble showcased much of the way. As for the music, it is highly sophisticated, sometimes enigmatic and not designed for unschooled ears. It does, however, in Leach's words, "[display] the wonderfully broad and inspiring diversity of uniquely personal styles, with influences ranging from classical to jazz and from folk to free . . . truly Free Range music."
Track Listing
Spinoff; Synthadventures of a Spacehero; Mata Hari; Kleiner Stau; Belphegor; Oracao; Postcard No. 1; Totales Tanzverbot; Zamboni; Berlin.
Personnel
Hazel Leach
composer / conductorHazel Leach: leader, flute (3, 8, 10); Aaron Schmidt-Wiegand: trumpet (2, 3, 5, 6, 9); Sebastian Piskorz: trumpet (1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10); Abigail Sanders: horn (6); Ruth Schepers: alto, C melody sax, clarinet, flute; Meike Goosmann: soprano sax (1); Christian “Tian” Korthals: soprano, tenor sax; Edith Steyer: baritone, alto sax, clarinet (1, 4, 5, 7-10); Oleg Hollmann: baritone sax (2, 3); Nils Marquardt: trombone (1, 4, 5, 7-10); Philipp Domke: trombone (2, 3); Pauline Boeykens: tuba; Fee Stracke: piano; Alexander Tzschentke: guitar; Dirk Strakhof: bass (1, 2, 5, 9, 10); Horst Nonnemacher: bass (3, 4, 6-8); Lucia Martinez: drums, percussion; Daniel Friedrichs: violin; Philippe Perotto: violin; Katja Braun: viola; Susanne Paul: cello (2, 4-7, 9); Martin Klenk: cello (1, 3, 8, 10).
Album information
Title: Free Range Music | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: JazzHausMusik
Comments
About Hazel Leach
Instrument: Composer / conductor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To