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Kenny Werner with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra: Institute of Higher Learning
By"House of the Rising Sun"the traditional folk tune made so famous by The Animals in 1964 that it became de rigueur learning for budding guitaristswas given a jazzier veneer on John Scofield's This Meets That (EmArcy, 2010). But while the guitarist made it his own, with modernistic re-harmonization and a guest appearance by fellow six-stringer Bill Frisell, it remained relatively faithful. Much as SFJAZZ Collective has been twisting and turning the music of a pop iconboth on the road and on Live in New York Season 8: Music of Stevie Wonder (SFJAZZ, 2011)so, too, does Werner here, on his sweeping 10-minute arrangement that takes over two minutes to get to the familiar melody, and even then, over some serious re-harms. Cascading horns lead to a fiery duo between incendiary drummer Martijn Vink and baritone saxophonist Bo Van der Werf, building to a thrilling mid-set climax.
But as strong an arrangement as "Rising Sun" is, it's Werner's writing that rightfully dominates the set, including the three-part, 30-minute "Cantabile Suite" that makes clear, from the ambling mid-tempo swing of the "First Movement," that this is a different kind of large ensemble record than the broader array of horns, reeds and woodwinds of No Beginning. Here it's a more conventional big band all the wayfive reed/woodwind players, four trumpets and four trombonesbolstered by a four-piece rhythm section, Werner included. But as much as Werner aligns himself to a tradition, he goes against type from the very start, with guitarist Peter Hertmans' visceral, overdriven lines bringing a grittier vibe to the set's first solo, only to peak as Werner takes over, impressionistic motifs peppered with left-hand punctuations.
Like saxophonist Chris Potter's recent Transatlantic (Red Dot, 2011), this set suggests that the full extent of world class players simply can't be measured, as Werner democratically makes Institute of Higher Learning as much a feature for the Brussels Jazz Orchestra as it is the pianist's own writing and performing. Whether it's the balladic "Second Movement," with its lyrical spot for trumpeter Pierre Drevet, or the episodic title track, where the pianist is at his modal best, Institute of Higher Learning is a record that, combined with the other two discs Werner has released this past year, makes clear, in no uncertain terms, that Werner's back...and back, indeed, with a vengeance.
Track Listing
Cantabile, First Movement; Cantabile, Second Movement; Cantabile, Third Movement; Second Love Song; The House of the Rising Sun; Compensation; Institute of Higher Learning.
Personnel
Kenny Werner
pianoKenny Werner: piano; Peter Hertmans: guitar; Jos Machtel: double bass; Martijn Vink: drums; Frank Vaganee: artistic director, lead alto and soprano saxphones; Dieter Limbourg: alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute; Kurt Van Herck: tenor saxophone, flute; Bart Defoort: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Bo Van der Werf: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Serge Plume: lead trumpet, flugelhorn; Nico Schepers: trumpet, flugelhorn; Pierre Drevet: trumpet, flugelhorn; Joeroen Van Malderen: trumpet, flugelhorn; Marc Godfried: lead trombone; Lode Mertens: trombone; Ben Fleerakkers: trombone; Laurent Hendrick: bass trombone.
Album information
Title: Institute Of Higher Learning | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Half Note Records
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