Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge: The Comet's Tail: Performin...

307

Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge: The Comet's Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker

By

Sign in to view read count
Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge: The Comet's Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker
What better way to commemorate Michael Brecker than with a CD by a hard-driving big band playing his compositions. Brecker, the great tenor saxophonist died in 2007. His music and talent will be long remembered, and Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge have put together a wonderful selection of arrangements, starring some of today's best of players.

Owen, University of South Florida jazz composition professor, conceived this project in conjunction with USF. Owen says that the goal was re-envisioning Brecker's work through the eyes of various arrangers, including Brecker's frequent collaborators Gil Goldstein and Vince Mendoza. Owen, himself, was a major contributor, along with Vancouver composer Fred Stride.

For its second recording, joining the talented 17-piece Surge orchestra on various numbers are special guests Randy Brecker, trumpet, Mike Mainieri, vibes, Mike Stern, guitar, Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano, saxophones. Little known violinist Rob Thomas is also a big presence. The numbers are long, about 10 minutes each, giving everyone a chance stretch out on solos. Most had shared the bandstand on numerous occasions with Michael Brecker.

Fittingly, the CD starts off with brother Randy Brecker soloing on "Peep," a sparkling arrangement by Stride. The sharp precision of the band is immediately apparent.

Owen's four arrangements are very impressive, beginning with his take on the popular "Itsbynne Reel," a surprising delight, formed from a traditional Irish reel. Thomas' violin is integral from the start as the piece moves toward a swirling climax—Thelonious Monk meets River Dance. Band members Jack Wilkins on tenor sax and LaRue Nicholson on guitar contribute wild solos in the free-for-all finale.

Thomas' violin again sets the tone for Owen's adaption of "How Long 'til the Sun," a soft mellow ballad, with Randy Brecker's lyrical trumpet and the band's layered brass shadings adding much to the indigo mood.

A real standout is Owen's quirky version of "Take A Walk." This begins with an animated musical conversation between saxophones, Lovano's tenor and Liebman's soprano. The title can be taken as an invitation or a put-down. About one-third in, Manieri's vibes joins the group. All happily converse musically until they seem to get perturbed, making for a hotly dissonant finish. This is high octane writing.

In Owen's take on "Everything Happens When You're Gone," Lovano, after a soulful start, really gets "amped" on tenor. On this, the band projects a big brassy Stan Kenton sound. And, again, Thomas takes a hard-sawing solo.



The Comet's Tail truly captures Michael Brecker's genius, But, as well, it should be a launching pad, lifting recognition for the Surge band.

Track Listing

Peep; Slings and Arrows; Itsbynne Reel; How Long 'Til the Sun; Sumo; The Mean Time; Take a Walk; Everything Happens When You're Gone.

Personnel

Chuck Owen
composer / conductor

Chuck Owen: conductor, arranger; Tami Danielsson: saxophone; Valerie Gillespie: saxophone; Jack Wilkins: saxophone; Rex Wertz: saxophone; Matt Vance: trumpet; Chad Shoopman: trumpet; Mike Iapichino: trumpet; Jay Coble: trumpet; Tom Parmerter: trumpet; Keith Oshiro: trombone; Tom Brantley: trombone; Jerald Shynett: trombone; Jim Hall: trombone; Per Danielsson: piano; LaRue Nickelson: guitar; Mark Neuenschwander: bass; Danny Gottlieb: drums; David Coash: percussion (3, 4); Randy Brecker: trumpet, fluegelhorn (1-4); Mike Stern: guitar (1-6); Rob Thomas: violin (3-5); Dave Liebman: soprano, tenor sax (5-7); Joe Lovano: tenor sax (7, 8); Adam Nussbaum: drums (6, 7); Lowell Adams: cello.

Album information

Title: The Comet's Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: MAMA Records

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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