Louis Guarino, Jr.: Spiritual Awakenings

Spiritual Awakenings is the labor of love from New Haven CT trumpeter Louis Guarino, Jr. Mr. Guarino readily admits his influence by Miles Davis, as well as, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, and Freddie Hubbard. But it is Mile the most in attendance here. Mr. Guarino has an omnivorous appetite for music and musical genres, including admiration for artists as different as Charles Ives and Danny Elfman.. His current stylistic resting place is a vastly updated In A Silent Way landscape with sparse instrumentation and wide-open spaces. This is a recording of moody textures and introspective faith. The moods of the recording range from soothingly placid and peaceful to a-cry-from-the-therapist's-couch anguished and dissonant.

The extended suite "A Voyage Thru the Clouds" is the disc centerpiece, sonically describing the turbulence and unpredictability of emotional weather patterns. Guarino mutes his horn for the opening theme and "Part 1". He switches to an open bell for the transitional sections in "Theme (Improvised)" and "Part 2 (Changing Weather)." Guarino effectively builds tension in anticipating "Part 3 (the Storm)" before finishing calmly with the "Closing Theme."

As a whole, Spiritual Awakenings is a well considered tone poem, one that was well thought out by the composer as well as well executed. This music is of the same ilk as sushi metaphysically, transcending the ordinary consumption for a higher realization and appreciation in texture and consistency.