Is the pen actually mightier than the sword? Here are three new releases that show how the pen is at least mightier than the horn, as it guides into (pun intended) uncharted waters.
Composer/arranger Justin Morell puts together a ten piec band that includes Bob Sheppard/sax, Ben Wendel/reeds, Matt Otto/ts, Phil O’Connor/reeds, John Daversa/tp, Alan Ferber/tb, George Thatcher/btb and a tight rhythm section that emphasizes advanced harmony and intricate interplay. The brass section gets a workout on “Noun Ember” while the reeds split their lips on the tricky “Fugue in E-Flat.” Guitar work by Morell is imporssive on the “Fugue in E” and “O” but most of the time, while the sounds are impressive, an overriding of sterility creeps in, making the music more of a cerebration than celebration.
Ya want some fun to go with your chops? The team of Joe Fiedler, Ryan Keberle and Luis Bonilla is the front line, Marcus Rojas handles the tuba and Steven Bernstein’s slide trombone guests on three tunes that make you think you’re listening to elephant mating calls! Actually, this is a wonderful outing, with a bouncy “Sackbut Stomp”, a testifying “Eight Page Bible” and a nimble bass run on “Tin Tin Teo” that will make you think of Dumbo doing a ballerina dance. “Feet and Breathe” has more sliding than Ricky Henderson, while “Pittsburgh Morning” includes wonderfully velvet harmonies. Do they do weddings?!?
Dan Willis plays just about every single and double reed thing in town, and with a band that includes electric guitar, keyboards, violin, ehru, gongs, vibes and a rhythm section, delves into the quizzical songbook of famed composer Eric Satie. The collection of “Gnossiennes” get a workout here, with “#7” using some clever reed and electric guitar work, a reggae groove in “#6” and some quircky guitar and angular percussion and directions in “#4”. Marimba and tenor sax comingle on “Pieces Froid I” and even Monk gets into the picture on a Spherical “Vexations Alternate I” . Some workout! Woody Herman it ain’t!
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