Danny Jonokuchi Big Band: A Decade

For trumpeter, vocalist and bandleader Danny Jonokuchi, the path to success—in music and in life—has never been smooth or trouble-free. Born with a congenital lung disease, Jonokuchi needed life-saving surgery while in high school to treat a collapsed lung, which caused him to put his trumpet playing aside, at least temporarily. Years later, and almost a continent away from his native Los Angeles, Jonokuchi was viciously attacked in south Philadelphia, resulting in traumatic injuries to his mouth and embouchure. This time, Jonokuchi had to learn to play the trumpet again from square one.

End of story? Not by a long shot. Jonokuchi used his time away from playing to focus on composing and arranging, moved to New York, started playing and singing again, earned some awards for his writing and formed a big band whose fifth album, A Decade, represents in musical terms Jonokuchi's forward progress in the face of obstacles that would have sidelined many less upbeat and determined musicians. These are Jonokuchi's charts, and they are almost always bright and powerful, as is the leader's sturdy New York-area band.

To underline the personal chronology, Jonokuchi has chosen to lead with Kenny Barron's turbulent "Voyage," accentuating its muscle with lively solos by pianist Jeb Patton and alto saxophonist Andrew Gould. Lionel Hampton's perky "Red Top" continues in that vein, this time with trumpeter Terell Stafford at center stage. Jonokuchi himself is next up, not playing trumpet but singing—quite respectably—on the venerable Rodgers and Hart standard, "This Can't Be Love," and making room for sharp solos by tenor Jon Beshay and trombonist Sara Jacovino. The sunny "South Philly," which follows (right, it never rains in Philadelphia), is yet another swinging highlight, featuring noteworthy solos by Gould and trumpeter Scott Wendholt.

Even "Skylark," which is often an album's ballad centerpiece, is taken at a brisker than usual pace, punctuating persuasive statements by Jonokuchi on trumpet and tenor Chris Lewis. A second version of the Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer standard closes the album, this time with Jonokuchi performing the lyric. Jonokuchi and baritone Andrew Gutauskas stroll confidently through Bronislau Kaper's "On Green Dolphin Street," played at precisely the right tempo, while Beshay and trombonist Robert Edwards enhance Wayne Shorter's limber "Ping Pong." Tadd Dameron's lyrical "Lady Bird" is always a pleasure to hear, especially so when played by a superb ensemble that swings its backside off behind robust solos by alto Chris Oatts and trumpeter Bruce Harris.

Appetizing as everything has been to this point, Jonokuchi uncovers yet another treasure to help ice the cake: a marvelous arrangement of the Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen standard, "Like Someone in Love." The chart is radiant and charming, as are the solos by Beshay and Wendholt. Jonokuchi lets the band wrap the exquisite package with one last robust and irresistible shout chorus. The "Skylark bonus" follows, with Lewis' eloquent tenor following the leader's pleasant vocal and the band roaring its way across the finish line—the perfect way to close a remarkably well-designed and persuasive big-band album whose leader deserves immense praise and gratitude for sidestepping so many massive barriers to make it happen.