Never Enough Hope

Never Enough Hope: The Gift Economy

by John Dworkin
October 19, 2008

Tobin Summerfield's Chicago ensemble Never Enough Hope is a modern musician's Noah's ark. The players come in pairs: two trumpets, two alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, two lower range saxophones, two violins, two mid-range strings, two basses, two guitars, two vibraphones and two drum kits. The resemblance in instrumentation to a traditional jazz big band is this group's only similarity to that sonic world.The Gift Economy is a showcase for Summerfield's compositions. His music has the idiosyncrasy and ...