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Phronesis; Julian Argüelles; Frankfurt Radio Big Band: The Behemoth
ByThe Behemoth affords exciting new big band arrangements to Phronesis's burgeoning back catalogue of tunes and opens with Ivo Neame's "Ok Chorale" which first appeared on Phronesis's 2016 album Parallax. The elegant "Untitled #1" benefits from both an engagingly memorable ensemble vamp and an imaginative solo from guitarist Martin Scales. Jasper Hoiby's mercurial, serpentine "Stillness," also featured on Parallax, consistently commands the listener's rapt attention.
Anton Eger's polyrhythmic and joyously anthemic "Herne Hill" gleaned from Phronesis's 2014 album Life To Everything is followed by Ivo Neame's gorgeously ornate "Charm Defensive" and "Zieding," penned by Anton Eger, are both from the album Walking Dark (2012). On the latter track Alex Schlosser's gives a scintillating trumpet solo and the piece culminates in a positively mesmeric ensemble crescendo and ends with a stately-paced coda.
Høiby plays a frenetic, jaw-dropping bass solo on Anton Eger's "Urban Control" (also from Life To Everything) and Julian Argüelles follows this with a sinuous tenor solo. The lively closer "Happy Notes" was first heard on Phronesis's 2010 album Alive and is adorned by another superbly fluid Scales guitar solo, suggesting he has picked up the mantle from his late and sadly missed countryman Volker Kriegel.
This multi-faceted major recording by the Høiby-led trio, is augmented by one of the world's hottest big bands. Argüelles's superb arrangements, combined with virtuoso performances all around, contribute to making this a must-hear release.
Track Listing
Ok Chorale; Untitled#1; Stillness; Herne Hill; Charm Defensive; Zieding; Phraternal; Intro to Urban Control; Urban Control; Happy Notes.
Personnel
Julian Argüelles: arranger, conductor, tenor saxophone solo on #9; Jasper Høiby: double bass; Ivo Neame: piano; Anton Eger: drums. Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, piccolo; Oliver Leicht: alto saxophone, clarinet; Tony Lakatos: tenor saxophone, alto flute; Steffen Weber: tenor saxophone; Rainer Heute: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Frank Wellert, Thomas Vogel, Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser: trumpet, flugelhorn; Günter Bollmann, Peter Feil: trombone; Christian Jaksjø: trombone, bass trumpet; Manfred Honetschläger: bass trombone; Martin Scales: guitar.
Album information
Title: The Behemoth | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Edition Records
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