Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » New Zealand School of Music Big Band: Too Cool

1

New Zealand School of Music Big Band: Too Cool

By

View read count
New Zealand School of Music Big Band: Too Cool
While the latest CD by the splendid New Zealand School of Music Big Band may not be Too Cool, it's definitely chilly enough to demand that the average listener wear earmuffs while sampling its frigid yet at the same time fiery bill of fare. Blues got you down? A few bars of the orchestra's sunny curtain-raiser, Bill Liston's "Blues to Begin With," should cast them into the nearest dustbin. If not, you may be too far gone to benefit from any help. In which case, you might consider "Durban Poison" (only kidding, of course—even though its punchy brass and impulsive rhythms are also tailor-made to chase the blues away).

A college band? That's undeniable, but these young men (and one woman) could turn pro tomorrow and almost no one would blink an eye. Too cool? Well, yes, if you mean that the NZSM orchestra smokes on every number, from the aforementioned "Blues" and "Poison" to Lennon / McCartney's "Michelle," Wayne Shorter's "E.S.P.," Bill Cunliffe's "Nilesology" and Matt Harris' irrepressible "Cappucino Freeway" and leisurely "Too Cool." The complete package? So it would seem, until the decision is made to toss in three vocals by Eugene Wolfin, starting with the Basie classic "Smack Dab in the Middle." That's not meant to devalue Wolfin, who does the best he can, but he's no blues singer, and is called on to handle two—the other is "The Woman's Got Soul"—along with the standard "Moonlight in Vermont." Nothing displeasing, mind you, but the time could have been better spent on more instrumental fireworks.

Speaking of which, the galvanizing "Blues to Begin With" sets a swinging course that prevails throughout, with orchestra and soloists pushing hard to embrace and enliven the music. Music director Rodger Fox spreads the solos around, and everyone responds well to the challenge, especially alto saxophonist Bryn van Vliet, tenor Shaan Singh and guitarist Jules Blewman who are heard most often. Singh is showcased on "Too Cool," trumpeter Michael Costeloe on "Michelle," trombonist Cameron Kidby on "Smack Dab in the Middle." Trumpeter James Wisnesky is heard on "Moonlight in Vermont" and (with trombonist Kaito Walley and pianist Albert Lee) on "Nilesology," Blewman and Walley on "E.S.P.," Blewman and van Vliet on "Durban Poison," Kidby and tenor Karam Jung on "Cappucino Freeway." The rhythm section (Lee, Blewman, bassist Sam Thomson, drummers Kelly Ballard or Jacob Randall) is snug and responsive.

When all is said and done, it's clear that Fox has assembled quite an impressive ensemble at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, one that may well serve as a pipeline for recruits to his superb and long-running Rodger Fox Big Band. One stone thrown, two birds slain.

Track Listing

Blues to Begin With; Too Cool; Michelle; Durban Poison; The Woman’s Got Soul; Moonlight in Vermont; Smack Dab in the Middle; E.S.P.; Nilesology; Cappucino Freeway.

Personnel

Rodger Fox
trombone

Rodger Fox: music director; Lex French: trumpet; James Wisnesky: trumpet; Michael Costeloe: trumpet; Jonathan Hulse-Sangster: trumpet; Bryn van Vliet: alto sax; Eilish Wilson: alto sax; Shaan Singh: tenor sax; Karam Jung: tenor sax; Duncan Phillips: baritone sax; Cameron Kidby: trombone; Kaito Walley: trombone; Sean Tickle: trombone; Luke Spence: bass trombone; Albert Lee: keyboards; Jules Blewman: guitar; Sam Thomson: bass; Kelly Ballard: drums (1-3, 5, 9); Jacob Randall: drums (4, 6-8, 10), percussion; Eugene Wolfin: vocals.

Album information

Title: Too Cool | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Nzsm Jazz

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About Jazz

Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.