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OSU Jazz Orchestra: Room 118
ByThe word "band" should perhaps be pluralized, as three ensemblesalbeit with largely identical personnelwere involved in the recording sessions, held in October 2018, May 2019 and December 2019. The Seretean Center, where the entire album was recorded, has since been replaced by the state-of-the-art McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. Poole chose the playlist with care: half a dozen familiar jazz evergreens encasing bright original compositions by Wayne Wallace and pianist Dylan L Shadoan and closing with "I've Got What?," a digit-challenging contrafact of the Gershwin brothers' standard, "I've Got Rhythm" (complete with hair-raising saxophone soli).
The session opens with Toshiko Akiyoshi's clever "Tuning Up," which gives the impression the orchestra is doing exactly that before the bluesy melody and rhythm emerge from the chaos. The ensemble handles it well, as do the soloists: Shadoan, baritone saxophonist Matthew Howell, altos Matthew Floeter and Nathan Brooks, tenor Kyle Fisher and trombonists Jacob Eyler and Seth Giles. Bob Mintzer's lively "Art of the Big Band" is next (solos by Fisher, Shadoan and drummer Ryan DeShazo), followed by Herbie Hancock's sultry "Dolphin Dance," arranged by Mintzer and featuring Brooks, DeShazo and trombonist Kyle Hunt. The tempo slows to a crawl on Thad Jones' warm-hearted "To You" (showcasing Shadoan and Hunt), then regains momentum on Ted Nash's rhythmic "5½ Weeks" (trim solos by Floeter, DeShazo and guitarist Eric Eppstein).
Eppstein solos again with trombonist Hunt and trumpeter Tyler Murray on Shadoan's fanciful and funky "Dubious Dachshund" before the band takes it up a notch on Horace Silver's assertive "Nutville" and Wallace's easy-riding "Fillmore Street Mambo" (dexterous solos by Floeter and vibraphonist Howard Potter, added percussion by Michael Bremo) before ringing down the curtain with "I've Got What?" (solos by Hunt, Fisher and the hard-working DeShazo). Based on this sample, the opinion here is that "you're doin' fine, Oklahoma"and that as far as big-band jazz is concerned, Stillwater runs deep and should refresh anyone who pauses to enjoy a taste or more.
Track Listing
Tuning Up; Art of the Big Band; Dolphin Dance; To You; 5 ½ Weeks; Dubious Dachshund; Nutville; Fillmore Street Mambo; I’ve Got What?
Personnel
Tommy Poole
band / ensemble / orchestraMatt Heron
trumpetRyan Hatcher
trumpetJacob Rylko
trumpetBen Chapman
trumpetSteffi Tetzloff
trumpetNathan Brooks
saxophone, altoMatthew Floeter
saxophone, altoKyle Fisher
saxophone, tenorAbraham Nunez
saxophone, tenorMatthew Howell
saxophone, baritoneJacob Eyler
tromboneKyle Hunt
tromboneSeth Giles
tromboneElizabeth Toles
trombone, bassSpencer Hudson
trombone, bassDylan L Shadoan
pianoMickey Webster
bass, acousticRyan DeShazo
drumsAdditional Instrumentation
May 9, 2019—Matthew Heron, Jacob Rylko, Ben Chapman, Steffi Tetzloff: trumpet; Matthew Floeter, Nathan Brooks, Jonathan Coon: alto sax; Kyle Fisher, Abraham Nunez: tenor sax; Matthew Howell: baritone sax; Jacob Eyler, Kyle Hunt, Seth Giles: trombone; Elizabeth Toles: bass trombone; Eric Eppstein: guitar; Dylan Shadoan: piano; Mickey Webster: bass; Ryan DeShazo: drums. December 11, 2019—Ryan Hatcher, Jack Lollis, Tyler Murray, Clayton Chai: trumpet; Matthew Floeter, Bobby Stillman: alto sax; Kyle Fisher, Matthew Howell: tenor sax; Abraham Nunez: baritone sax; Garrett Martin, Kyle Hunt, Seth Giles: trombone; Spencer Hudson: bass trombone; Eric Eppstein: guitar; David Bruce: piano; Luciano Quezada: bass; Conor Gass: drums; Dylan Shadoan: Wurlitzer organ.
Album information
Title: Room 118 | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
About Tommy Poole
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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