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Dan Pugach: Plus One

By Angelo Leonardi
August 27, 2019
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Ci giunge con un po' di ritardo questo debutto del batterista e arrangiatore israeliano Dan Pugach ma va segnalato per testimoniare l'ottimo momento del jazz orchestrale. Trasferitosi negli Stati Uniti per frequentare il Berklee College of Music, Pugach è appassionato della scuola orchestrale mainstream e s'è perfezionato al City College di New York studiando con Hal Crook, Joe Lovano George Garzone e altri. In questo lavoro ha arrangiato per medio organico -con l'ausilio della vocalist Nicole Zuraitis-sue composizioni e tre brani (rispettivamente di Dolly Parton, Chick Corea e Ivan Lins). Il nonet protagonista dell'incisione include eccellenti solisti con esperienza in ampi organici come i trombettisti Ingrid Jensen e David Smith (che si alternano nel disco), il sax baritono Andrew Gutauskas o il trombonista Mike Fahie più gli emergenti Andrew Gould, Jeremy Powell, Carmen Staaf e Jorn Swart.

Gli arrangiamenti sono eleganti, equilibrati e ricchi di colore con Pugach che ha il merito di non sovresporre il suo ruolo di batterista nelle dinamiche orchestrali. Nel percorso musicale non mancano momenti originali, alcuni con la presenza della brava vocalist moglie del leader: il torrido blues in 12/8 "Our Blues," il ricercato "Coming Here" (con ottimi interventi di Ingrid Jensen al flicorno e Jeremy Powell al tenore) e "Crystal Silence," dove Nicole Zuraitis evidenzia la sua bella voce soprano.

Track Listing

Brooklyn Blues; Coming Here; Jolene; Zelda; Belo's Bellow; Crystal Silence; Love Dance; Our Blues; Discourse This

Personnel

Dan Pugach

drums

Ingrid Jensen (2,3,5,8), David Smith (1,4,6,7,9): trumpet; Mike Fahle: trombone; Jen Hinkle: bass trombone; Andrew Gould: alto saxophone, flute; Jeremy Powell: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Andrew Gutauskas: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Nicole Zuraitis (3,6,7,8): voice; Carmen Staaf (2,3,5,8), Jorn Swart (1,4,6,7,9): piano; Tamir Shmerling: bass; Bernardo Agular (5): pandeiro; Dan Pugach: drums.

Album information

Title: Plus One | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Unit Records

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About Dan Pugach

Instrument: Drums

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