Bobby Selvaggio 11: Stories, dreams, inspirations: for my boy

There is something special about the people of Northeastern Ohio. They take great pride in what is called "The Land." Cleveland sports fans may be the most loyal, whether they turn out for baseball's opening day in a snowstorm or cheer for an imagined Super Bowl game which has yet to materialize. They even root for stars such as native son LeBron James, who now plays basketball in Los Angeles. The same can be said of Cleveland's jazz musicians. From Tadd Dameron to Albert Ayler to Joe Lovano, locals follow their careers even when the musicians have relocated to New York. The reason is that they never shed the imprint of their birthplace.

For saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio, who has garnered plenty of acclaim performing and recording in New York, his heart never left Northeast Ohio. His family and the vibrant music scene were the draw for his return to Cleveland. Proof of both is evidenced by his large ensemble recording Stories, Dreams, Inspirations: For My Boy. The post-bop saxophonist has a proven track record both composing and arranging; his previous releases Live From The Bop Stop (Dot Time Records, 2020) and Quantum Man (Dot Time Records, 2017) added strings and chamber ensemble instruments. With his latest release, he presents seven new compositions, arranged for his 11-piece Cleveland band, all dedicated to his son Julian.

Family is a theme throughout this recording, with his wife Chelsea's vocals on two tracks and plenty of local talent—many of whom deserve wider recognition—perform here. Pianist Theron Brown's bright piano opens "Good People" before we hear Selvaggio's alto saxophone solo, followed by trumpeter Tommy Lehman and drummer Zaire Darden. Selvaggio's arrangements trade in tight charts yet loose-fitting solos. The discipline the ensemble displays allows for this freedom. "Concentric Circles" follows this formula with popping beats driving Selvaggio's wheel within a wheel composition which allow solos to spin off while riding the gyroscope of sound. The arrangement heard with "Blue" is a display of the full force of the ensemble, both at its most orotund, yet serene. Chelsea Selvaggio's wordless vocals glide over orchestration which shifts and weaves flowing into delicate patterns, with Brown's piano solo cueing the ensembles return. "I Have A Dream" opens with Selvaggio's soprano saxophone woven into the full ensemble before Orlando Watson recites Dr. Martin Luther King's famous speech. This must certainly be Selvaggio's wish for his son and all of our children, be they from Cleveland or any other land.