Live: Sf Jazz Center 2017

Reviewed: 2018-04-26
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: The current line-up of this stellar octet returns with a two-disc set, with the first a set of original compositions by individual band members, & the second dedicated to innovative arrangements of music penned by Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, & Stevie Wonder arrangements, which manages to cover considerable territory with a compelling and creative blend of reverence and reinvention.
If You Like: Mingus Big Band, Christion McBride Big Band
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
DISC 1
1/ Give The Drummer Some (9:39) – horns start> uptempo ja slows to midtempo thenn swings back up> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> drum solo> jam> quick stop
2/ Venezuela Unida (9:26) – trombone start> slow jam swings to midtempo> piano/percussion duet> uptempo jam> false stop> new melody> slows to midtempo> crescendo & quick stop
*3/ Tidal Flow (7:18) – sax solo> slow jam swings to midtempo> sax solo> midtempo jam slows to slow tempo> slow fade
*4/ Tune For June (9:15) – piano starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow jam> sax solo builds in volume & intensity> slow jam> piano/vibes duet swings to midtempo> slow fade
5/ Off Kilter (8:19) – vibes start> midtempo jam> piano solo swings uptempo> trumpet solo swings to fast jam> trombone solo> false stop> horns start> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*6/ Perseverance (11:18) – horns start> midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> trumpet solo swings into off-kilter uptempo jam> rocking uptempo sax solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*7/ Soundless Odyssey (8:05) – drums start, slow & hesitating> slow jam> piano/bass duet> midtempo jam> slow jam> quick stop
8/ Living The Questions (7:03) – drums start> uptempo jam> vibes solo> uptempo jam> drum solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
DISC 2
*9/ Bye-Ya (4:42) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> drawn out crescendo end
*10/ Criss Cross (4:08) – drums start> uptempo swinging jam> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
11/ Reflections (5:48) – piano starts> midtempo jam slows to slow jam> vibes solo> trumpet solo> trumpet/vibes duet> slow jam> vibes solo> slow fade
12/ Una Muy Bonita (6:59) – vibes start> midtempo jam> sax solo> midtempo swinging jam> quick stop
*13/ School Work (9:16) – sax starts, swings into uptempo jam> fast sax solo> fast trumpet solo> uptempo jam> crescendo> melody shift> slow jam> piano solo swings into uptempo jam> cresecendo end
*14/ When Will The Blues Leave (5:35) – trumpet starts> fast jam> quick stop
*15/ Sir Duke (9:55) – drums start> uptempo jam> vibes solo slows to midtempo> vibes solo> trumpet solo swings back uptempo> sax solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end & fade
16/ Creepin’ (8:42) – bass/piano start> slow jam> trumpet solo swings to midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
*17/ Superstition (9:57) – horns start> uptempo & funky> uptempo jam> vibes solo> trombone solo> uptempo jam slows to midtempo> crescendo end