John Hollenbeck Jazz Bigband Graz featuring Theo Bleckmann: Joys & Desires

This release would look like the dozens of big band recordings that surface every year, except for the small print mentioning Theo Bleckmann. Bleckmann, a fixture in New York City performance art circles, was a conspicuous presence on this year's Winter & Winter recording Las Vegas Rhapsody: The Night They Invented Champagne. Bleckmann isn't singing this time, but his mere presence means something unusual, and perhaps very significant, is up.

The first bit of subterfuge surrounding Joys & Desires is the Bigband Graz, directed by Heinrich von Kalnein and Horst-Michael Schaffer. The Bigband Graz is is centered in Graz, Austria, a band noted for its progressive orchestration, particularly on the recent Question and Answer, a recording made with Bob Brookmeyer of Brookmeyer's compositions and arrangements. The first bit of subterfuge is the presence of composer John Hollenbeck, a musican whose musical taste is both eclectic and omniverous.

Joys & Desires is anything but a big band recording. There is no "One O'clock Jump, no "Lester Leaps In, no "Take the A Train. Composer/percussionist Hollenbeck creates a jungle soundscape with his band, replete with bird calls, cat growls, and antelope hooves tramping in the dirt. Bleckmann is on hand as an androgynous narrator of a sensuous documentary. Bleckmann extends the same decadence he provided Las Vegas Rhapsody to Joys and Desires.

This disc is not for the faint of heart. It is very much a temporal soundtrack generated by a large jazz ensemble under the spell of the master composer Hollenbeck. Bleckmann's creamy, smooth delivery adds to the humidity of the pieces. Joys and Desires should be considered a step beyond mere sound recording into the realm of life soundtrack.