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Jerome Wilson's Best Releases Of 2018
by Jerome Wilson
It may be unwieldy to keep a large jazz ensemble together for economic reasons but this year was still full of outstanding big band recordings, whether done through commissions, arrangers working with established orchestras or even actual working ensembles. Several of the releases on my list are examples of that. Also this year had the usual ...
Jim McNeely: Barefoot Dances and Other Visions
by Jerome Wilson
When today's top composer-arrangers of large ensemble jazz are discussed, Jim McNeely's name sometimes gets overlooked. He deserves the recognition. He's been a long- time associate of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and its descendant, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and he's also done a lot of work with several European big bands. It could be ...
Owen Broder: Heritage
by Angelo Leonardi
Il trombonista Owen Broder ha evidenziato le sue doti di sassofonista e autore in due dischi pubblicati col quintetto “Cowboys and Frenchmen" co-diretto con il collega Ethan Helm. Soprattutto nel secondo Bluer Than You Think (Outside In Music, 2016) l'intento d'ispirarsi alle radici musicali nord-americane, entro un vivace modern mainstream con qualche sperimentazione, è risultato fresco ...
Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble: Atwood Suites
by Jerome Wilson
Andrew Rathbun is a Canadian saxophonist who has made a major musical statement here with this collection of suites, two of which are based on the poetry of author Margaret Atwood. Rathbun's writing shows the influence of another Canadian, Kenny Wheeler, in its lush sonority, the frequent gorgeous flugelhorn solos by Tim Hagans and the role ...
Eamon Dilworth: Viata
by Karl Ackermann
From its Romanian orgin, Viata translates to “Life." It is the new, independently produced album from Eamon Dilworth and his nameless quintet. Trumpeter Dilworth is not well-known in the U.S. but has received numerous awards in his native Australia. He has studied with some top brass talent including Lew Soloff, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dave Douglas and Avishai ...
Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra: Without A Trace
by Jack Bowers
Grudging good wishes to New Yorkers who are able to see and hear the world-class Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra on a fairly regular basis. Everyone else must make do with the occasional recording (Without a Trace is only the second by the ten-year-old ensemble which made its debut in 2008). That's not nearly enough, of course, ...
Jim McNeely: Barefoot Dances
Jim McNeely is among the most interesting jazz composer-arrangers and pianists around today. He always thinks big and fresh when it comes to his writing, and he plays a gorgeous, sensitive piano. His latest album, Barefoot Dancers and Other Visions (Planet Arts), is an original seven-part suite that he arranged and conducted in 2014 with the ...
Jim McNeely / Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Barefoot Dances and Other Visions
by Jack Bowers
Barefoot Dances and Other Visions is a contemporary seven-part suite written by composer/arranger Jim McNeely in 2014 for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with whom he has worked since 2008. “I tailored my musical visions," he writes, “to fit each player in the ensemble, and placed each soloist in a framework both familiar and challenging." Challenging ...
Owen Broder: Heritage
by Jerome Wilson
The cross-pollination of jazz and folk music is nothing new, but saxophonist Owen Broder does push things forward in this exploration of the idea, asking five different composers from varying generations and backgrounds to each write their own take on American folk music for an eight-piece ensemble. Besides Broder himself, the compositions and arrangements ...
Jihye Lee: April
by Angelo Leonardi
Quando s'iscrisse al Berklee College of Music, Jihye Lee aveva una scarsa conoscenza del jazz e nessuna intenzione di arrivare a essere orchestratrice e band-leader. Era un cantante pop coreana agli esordi e voleva espandere i suoi orizzonti musicali. Dopo circa un decennio Jihye presenta questo significativo debutto: una raffinata suite, scritta per un ampio organico ...
