Jake Hertzog: The Ozark Concerto

Jake Hertzog's ambitious Ozark Concerto showcases his lithe electric guitar in a well-intended but only moderately successful seven-movement opus, accompanied for the most part by the 23-member Arkansas-based Ozark Jazz Philharmonic (whose existence may seem improbable but is nonetheless true). The concerto premiered in April 2024 at the UARK Jazz Festival on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas.

Hertzog wrote the concerto and arranged much of it, with the OJP's director, Susumu Watanabe, providing several charts. The full orchestra performs on four movements, brass instruments and woodwinds one apiece, and everyone steps aside in favor of a string quartet on Movement IV. For what it is—a classically-slanted work with jazz accessories and shadings—the concerto is quite well done. The OJP is clearly up to the task, and its few brief solos are trim and respectable.

Hertzog, of course, claims much of the solo space, and generally ensures that it is charming and worthwhile. His jazz chops are admirable, his technique sure and seamless. Listen, for example, to his charming a cappella prologue on Part II, after which Hertzog engages in casual counterpoint with the brass section. On Part III, the jazziest on the menu, the orchestra swings about as easily as a large string-laden unit can behind trim solos by Hertzog and an unnamed but able trumpeter.

The string quartet is impressive on Part IV, as are the saxophones on VI, although there isn't much of a jazz component on the former, and more grazing around the edges than ingesting jazz on the latter. The last movement offers more of the same, with Hertzog's mellow guitar floating above a hushed and dreamlike orchestral sea before viewpoint and tempo accelerate in midstream. It brings to a suitable end what is essentially a semi-classical work with elements of jazz interspersed. For what it is, quite well done; but the "what" does not entail much of interest from a jazz perspective.

Jake Hertzog: composer, arranger, guitar. The Ozark Jazz Philharmonic—Susumu Watanabe: conductor; Bill Gable, Ben Hay, Rich Rulli, Cameron Summers: trumpet; Michael Hanna, Sarah Hetrick: alto sax; Alisha Pattillo, Austin Farnam: tenor sax; Rick Salonen: baritone sax; Cory Mixdorf, Shea Pierce, Michael Olefsky: trombone; Jason Hausback: bass trombone; Matt Nelson, Tomoko Kashiwagi: piano; Garrett Jones: bass; Chris Peters: drums; Er-Gene Kahng, Dayton Strick: violin; Tim MacDuff: viola; Pecos Singer: cello.

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