A musical suite inspired by a trash barge? OK, so it’s not exactly Billy Budd or The Marriage of Figaro, but what composer/saxist John Ellis and librettist Andy Bragen have done for this 75 minutes is to create a kind of modern day Odyssey, with the barge as a symbol for, well, you figure it out.
Musically, the construction is fascinating. You’ve got a brass section that gives hints of baroque as on “Anticipation” with subsequent vocals by Miles Griffith, Sachal Vasandani and Johnaye Kendrick giving hints of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, mixing scat as on the assertively bopper “Mutiny/Rebellion” and as individuals on the free and chaotic “Storm.” Bluesy pieces such as ‘Self-Knowledge” mix brass and voice judiciously, whel the horns agonize on “Mournful” and get festive on “Celebration.” Some guitar and electronic noodling serve as segues at times, with some bent strings used to perfection on”2nd Rejection.” Fresh, interesting and attractive-not a bad combo!
Parade Light Records