Presence

Reviewed: 2018-11-29
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Sometimes the sheer spirit of a jazz performance drowns out reservations such as whether that improvised solo was nailed tight enough to the groove, or whether the agenda ticks enough identity-confirming boxes. The Captain Black Big Band led by the Philadelphia pianist Orrin Evans (who also plays in the Bad Plus) operate with that kind of ragged aplomb. This live performance features explosive, riffing swingers and strong solos.But Evans also favors the bandleader-as-improv-auteur methods of leading, and such techniques are exhilarating but chancy territory for big jazz groups.
If You Like: Mingus Big Band, Stan Kenton, Christian McBride Big Band
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ The Scythe (9:30) – horns start> uptempo jam> trumpet solo soars> trombone solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*2/ Question (8:32) – sax solo starts>uptempo slightly off-kilter jam> piano solo> uptempo jam>
3/ Onward (10:34) – piano start> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> jam> piano solo> jam> crescendo & fade on piano
*4/ When It Comes (3:16) - piano solo swings into uptempo jam> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
5/ Trams (11:54) – piano solo starts> jumps to uptempo jam> swinging sax solo builds to fast jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
6/ Answer (13:08) – drums start> midtempo jam> sax solo> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> midtempo jam builds to crescendo end
*7/ Answer (13:08) – piano solo starts slow, builds to midtempo trio, then swings into uptempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> bass/drum duet> uptempo jam> quick stop
*8/ Presence (8:59) – drums start> midtempo jam> trombone solo> sax solo swings into uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam builds to crescendo end
9/ When it Comes (alternate take) (1;21) – trumpet starts> short uptempo jam> quick stop