Simon Oakly

Ally Fiola & The Next Quest: Interblaze

by Dan McClenaghan
March 18, 2023

Nova Scotian alto saxophonist Ally Fiola considers the themes of grief, wonder, fear and passion with her octet The Next Quest, on Interblaze. With a lot of low-end brass--baritone saxophone, trombone, sousaphone--the sound has a New Orleans brass band feel. It is also fun, celebratory music. The title tune and opening number sounds like a prance down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras--beads flying through the air, people in outlandish dress dancing. An insouciant organ opens “Backtrack"; the horns ...