Hazel

Reviewed: 2018-03-26
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Led by bass clarinetist Drew Williams, the WWO channels their inspiration from many directions, spicing things up with textural hues that are very musical, The first seven tracks on the album form a suite inspired by Saga, the space fantasy comic book series.
If You Like: Snarky Puppy, Stan Kenton, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ An Idea (or The Horns) – drums/percussion starts quiet & slow, builds into uptempo rocking jam> interplay between horns slows briefly then swings back up to uptempo jam> quick fade
**2/ Backbone (or The Wings) – bass starts> midtempo jam> call & response between horns> piano breaks briefly, swings into uptempo jam> quick stop
3/ Ghosts (or The Horrors) – piano starts> quick slow jam> quick stop
4/ Lying (or The Will) – percussion/clapping starts> slow jam builds to midtempo> with clapping throughout> quick stop
5/ Interlude – horns start> quick slow jam> quick stop
*6/ Heists (or Your Majesty) – bass/drums start> midtempo jam builds to uptempo>b volume> slows to pause> slow fade
*7/ Ignition (or Hazel) – piano starts> slow expansive jam> slow fade
8/ Look Around – horns start> midtempo jam> interplay between horns> slow build to uptempo jam> trombone solo> sax solo slows to midtempo, then swings out to full-throated uptempo jam> quick fade
*9/ We’ve Seen These Walls Crumble – bass clarinet starts> slow jam> pause> slow jam> pause slow space jam with interplay between trumpet & flute> slow jam> slow fade
*10/ HIGH – electric guitar starts> midtempo jam> clarinet solo> bass clarinet solo> rocking guitar solo> slows to midtempo jam, then sings back up to quick stop