Hollenbeck, John Large Ensemble / A Blessing
Album: A Blessing   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Hollenbeck, John Large Ensemble   Added:Sep 2005
Label:Omnitone  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2005-09-11 Pull Date: 2005-11-13 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Nov 13 Oct 30 Oct 23 Oct 16 Oct 9 Sep 25 Sep 18
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jun 19, 2006: No Cover, No Minimum - JJA Jazz Awards Edition
Folkmoot
4. Oct 21, 2005: Still No Cover, No Minimum
A Blessing
2. Nov 11, 2005: Memory Select
Weiji
5. Oct 13, 2005: Flow
Folkmoot
3. Oct 28, 2005: Memory Select
April In Reggae, Abstinence
6. Oct 07, 2005: Memory Select
Folkmoot

Album Review
Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2005-09-10
Bring, engaging stuff that treads between modern jazz and modern classical -- this time with a big ensemble (see Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet for similar stuff). The large format, with all its horns, brings out the more "jazz" side of Hollenbeck's pieces, but it's still centered on chamber jazz, stuff you might hear at an modern-art museum reception.

This is fun music -- don't let the "classical" comparison daunt you. Heavily composition-based with lots of interesting ideas and a crisp, tight sound.

1- Slow, comforting, with lyrics. Soft midtempo lines arise after -10:00. Unfolds like a sunrise, gets tangly. Ends slow again.
2- Ringing John Adams-like intro. Quiet piano/oboe middle building to a strong end.
3- Slow building chaos, then fast and dizzy. For Richard Muhal Abrams
4- High-energy chaos, starts from a fast drumbeat
5- Calm start / swirly fast chaos / sly, cool jazz feel / fast!
6- Midtempo skipping beat; more big-band jazz than reggae
7- Eerie vocal text w/music. Droney; smoothy robotic.

Track Listing
1. A Blessing   5. Abstinence
2. Folkmoot   6. April In Reggae
3. Ram   7. The Music Of Life
4. Weiji   .