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Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra: Twisting Ways
ByThe album consists of the four-part suite "Twisting Ways," with music by Braid ("The Hand") and Cote ("Hope Shadow") and lyrics by Lee Tsang , followed by Braid's "Lydian Sky" and Cote's "Fleur Variation 3." "The Hand" and "Hope Shadow" are separated by a pair of wordless interludes, "Dialogue" (which has some rhythmic spark but no solos) and "Opening Glimmers" (a tranquil soliloquy by Braid's unaccompanied piano). The vocalists are Sarah Slean ("Twisting Ways") and Karly Epp ("Lydian Sky," "Fleur Variation"). They acquit themselves well, as does the orchestra. The problem lies elsewhere, and is difficult to summarize without stepping on anyone's toes. In brief, to these ears, much of the music is mannered and tedious, even though that clearly was not what the composers had in mind. And, no doubt, there are others who may find it splendid and charming. To each his or her own.
There is some improvisation, by Braid, vibraphonist Stefan Bauer, bassist Karl Kohut and especially by tenor saxophonist Mike Murley who has a lengthy solo (as it turns out, a tad too lengthy) on Braid's cheerless "Lydian Sky." As for the various lyrics, they are surely well-intentioned but straddle a line between anomalous and incomprehensible, save for "Fleur Variation 3," whose vocal is wordless (or sounds so). For comparison's sake, in 1953 MGM released a musical, The Band Wagon, in which a well-respected Broadway director (played by Jack Buchanan) takes a simple musical comedy and turns it into a garish, overblown catastrophe. While Twisting Ways is certainly well-removed from that level of chaos, neither does it epitomize the kind of listening experience that hard-core jazz enthusiasts would be apt to welcome and embrace.
Track Listing
Twisting Ways (The Hand/Dialogue/Opening Glimmers/Hope Shadow); Lydian Sky; Fleur Variation 3.
Personnel
David Braid
composer / conductorPhilippe Cote
composer / conductorJeff Johnson
bass, acousticShane Hicks
trumpetRichard Boughton
trumpetRichard Gillis
trumpetAndrew Littleford
trumpetNeil Watson
saxophoneSean Irvine
saxophoneShannon Kristjanson
saxophoneJon Stevens
saxophonePaul Balcain
saxophoneMike Murley
saxophoneLauren Teterenko
saxophoneKen Gold
saxophoneJoel Green
tromboneJeff Presslaff
tromboneKeith Dyrda
tromboneFrancois Godere
tromboneD'Arcy McLean
trombone, bassAdditional Instrumentation
Stefan Bauer: vibraphone; Karl Kohut: bass; Eric Platz: drums; Sarah Slean, Karly Epp: vocals.
Album information
Title: Twisting Ways | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: WJO
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About David Braid
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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