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Thomas Barber's Janus Bloc: Snow Road
ByJanus Bloc is the realization of a longstanding dream for Barber, combining the power of a big band, the intimacy of a small jazz combo, and the orchestral shading of a classical chamber ensemble into one versatile unit. Switching between genres and styles as effortlessly as it does arrangements, the 14 member band brings Barber's ideas to fruition with a cohesive sensibility that provides his labyrinthine compositions with a logical, if occasionally surprising, narrative flow.
Lead by Barber on trumpet, and featuring special guest appearances from trumpeter Claudio Roditi and vibraphonist Tim Collins, Barber's large ensemble consists of a horn sextet, a string quartet, and a three-piece rhythm section. They premier seven of the leader's intricate originals, followed by a regal interpretation of Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday."
In the liner notes, Barber admits a fondness for the sweeping grandeur of composer John Williams' film scores, an influence that arises periodically throughout the record, most notably on the bucolic nostalgia of "Song For Snow Road." Embracing similar cinematic vistas, the delicate jazz waltz "Elizabeth Rose" features an elegant solo turn by Roditi, with Collins contributing cascading variations to the contrapuntal 7/4 epic "The Mind Beneath."
Classical forms influence the dramatic tonal shifts of "Shatzaquotek" and robust lyricism of "White Out," while "Stream" alternates between Third Stream complexity and a soulful swagger reminiscent of Wynton Marsalis' revisionism. "Lickity Split" ventures further a field, recalling Jim McNeely's more adventurous post-bop charts with a barrage of unfettered saxophone solos. The set concludes with a lilting neo-classical arrangement of "Come Sunday," highlighting the Attacca String Quartet's sober expressionism and Roditi's mellifluous flugelhorn work.
Snow Road is an admirable first effort from the young Thomas Barber, a composer whose talent suggests great potential for the future.
Track Listing
Song for Snow Road; Shatzaquotek; Stream; Elizabeth Rose; Lickity Split; The Mind Beneath; White Out; Come Sunday.
Personnel
Thomas Barber
trumpetThomas Barber: trumpet, flugelhorn; Sydney Braunfeld: French horn; Michael Dease: trombone; Sharel Cassity: alto saxophone, flute, alto flute; Stacy Dillard: tenor saxophone; Pete Reardon Anderson: clarinet; Lauren Sevian: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Amy Schroeder: violin; Keiko Tokunaga: violin; Gillian Gallagher: viola; Andrew Yee: cello; Adam Birnbaum: piano; Linda Oh: bass; Nasheet Waits: drums; Claudio Roditi: trumpet (4), flugelhorn (8); Tim Collins: vibes (6).
Album information
Title: Snow Road | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: D Clef Records