Pianist and composer Johannes Wallmann releases an ambitious album to celebrate “marriage equality” laws and legal decisions that have recently occurred in America. While many things can be stated about such a cultural change (does this “equality” include polygamy? Mother-Son? Underage?) the question most relevantly raised is if the music is brought forward in an authentic way.
With a team including Dayna Stephens/bs-ewi, vocalists Rob DZ, Sharon Clark, Jan Wheaton and Keith Borden aw well as Russ Johnson/tp, Dennis Mitcheltree/ts, Kenny Reichert/g, John Christensen/b and Devin Drobka/dr, Wallmann brings his piano and energy to his own compositions in a mixed collection of moods.
Rob DZ’s street corner rap even throws in Scripture, while still admitting he cannot define “love” in the title track. Miitcheltree’s tenor is warm on the declaratory “Preamble” and the team builds up to a climax on “Stonewall Was A Riot.” Other pieces such as “The Seventh Circuit” and the loose “Go On” get a bit disjointed, while Wallman himself delivers a vulnerable “Coda.” Enthusiastic and fervent; worth a conversation or two afterwards. Maybe next time, truth will win!