Vinny Golia is a busy man. In today’s lingo we call it ‘multi-tasking,’ the ability to perform various complicated assignments, seemingly at once. The artist, label chief, conductor, and musician has produced and performed in varying creative music situations. From solo work to improvised duo, trios, and post-bop quintets, he has taken his instruments, which by the way include everything from the piccolo to all saxophones, most clarinets, the English horn, bassoon, and flutes, into every conceivable setting.

A passion for him is his Large Ensemble work. Recorded live at Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA, the 26-piece ensemble is not so much a big band as it is an improvising orchestra. Golia’s passion for Western European classical music is evident in the broad vistas and dense compositions presented. His, dare I say, chamber music is less than a swinging affair. It is packed and layered by waves of emotional sound. Soloist step to the fore, working and reworking the concept of the piece. Solos by the talented Rob Blakeslee (flugelhorn) and Steve Adams (alto saxophone) come to mind. They drive and are driven by the percussionists and the power of the ensemble. This music lies somewhere between classical and jazz, noted and improvised, chamber and orchestra music. Like prior Large Ensemble recordings, this was probably the only performance of Golia’s music. Cost factors and time restrictions on the musicians make traveling and performing this repertoire impractical. These recordings document a noble and poetic endeavor.

Track List:(Disc One) No One had Ever Waved To A Lifeless Object Before; Thread For Fred; Something Heard; The Evasion Of Chaos-Part Two; Bot; The Evasion Of Chaos-Part One; (Disc Two) Japur; Push The Machine; The Village Of Forgotten Men-Part One; The Village Of Forgotten Men-Part Two; RIP; Master Of The Playing Cards.

Personnel: Trumpets-John Fumo, Jeff Kaiser, Rob Blakeslee; Trombones-Mike Vlatkovich, Danny Hemwall, Scott Ray; Tuba-Bill Roper; Woodwinds-Vinny Golia, Kim Richmond, Paul Sherman, Bill Plake, Eric Barber, Steve Adams, Alan Lechusza, Tara Speiser, Sarah Shoenbeck; Percussion-David Johnson, Brad Dutz, Alex Cline; Piano/Keyboards/Therimin-Wayne Peet; Violins-Harry Scorzo, Jeff Gauthier; Cello-Jonathan Golove, Guenevere Measham, Colin Person; Bass-Ken Filiano; Conductor-Stephanie Henry, Vinny Golia.

Style: Mainstream/Bop/Hard Bop/Cool
Published: April 01, 2000

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