Fernando Huergo: Relentless

Argentine-born bassist and composer Fernando Huergo's heavy-duty Massachusetts-based big band delivers the goods on Relentless, a taut and vibrant review of oppression, discrimination, environmental challenges and other social issues, interwoven with Huergo's lively tribute to the saxophonist Ornette Coleman and a charismatic and thought-provoking survey ("La Vida Sigue") on life after the Covid-19 pandemic, with all compositions and arrangements by the leader.

This is well-designed, no-holds-barred big-band jazz, delivered with verve and enthusiasm by eighteen well-prepared musicians whose unrelenting analysis of every chart mirrors and enhances Huergo's lyric purpose. The album's title song is a textbook example, with the band in high gear and roaring heartily behind exuberant solos by pianist Santiago Bosch, alto saxophonist Rick Stone and trumpeter Billy Buss. Others include "Blues Sureno" and the hard-driving finale, "Groove Odds" (solos on "Blues" by flutist Yulia Musayelyan, trumpeter Greg Hopkins and drummer Gen Yoshimura, on "Odds" by Stone, Yoshimura and tenor Rick DiMuzio).

Even when the tempo slackens, as on "Vidalita" (masterful flute work by Musayelyan) or "The Illusion of Hope" (a sublime showcase for Allan Chase's expressive alto), there is scant loss of impetus or passion; Yoshimura, Bosch, Huergo and percussionist Ernesto Diaz make sure of that. The fast-paced "Ornette" swings with gusto, thanks to Huergo's luminous chart, his impressive solo on electric bass, splendid time-keeping by Yoshimura and pleasing solos by Chase, trombonist Chris Gagne and baritone Daniel Ian Smith. Huergo's other charts—every one a winner—are "Panorama," "Deluge" and "Modernities." The first is another unbridled swinger, bolstered by Hopkins, Bosch, Diaz, bass trombonist Andy Garcia, tenor Joel Springer and the ensemble. While "Deluge" moves more slowly, the tension level remains high, with more tight-knit ensemble work and engaging solos by DiMuzio, Bosch, Yoshimura, Diaz, trombonist Randy Pingrey and trumpeter Jeff Claassen. Pingrey and trumpeter Dan Rosenthal share the solo spotlight on "Modernities," yet another of Huergo's always-congenial themes.

There are few wasted moments on Relentless, which is a marvelous tour de force for the band, its eloquent soloists and especially Huergo's creative and finely tuned compositions and arrangements. File this one under "pleasant surprises."

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