17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur

Ominous, lurking pieces for large band. Big, dark, bass-heavy tones, peppered with stretches of abstract group improv in the “conduction” mode (i.e., an orchestra-tuning-up kind of sound). Dixon’s kind of free jazz seems to focus more on flow than on fast scribbly soloing. The 13 tracks are part of one suite, so you’ll hear some recurring (or at least very similiar) themes. Tracks 4,5,10,11,12,13 are very short, composed of long tones that create an ominous (w)hole.

Faster, more scribbly stuff can be found on 4, kind of on 6, and on some of 9. Overall, though, this isn't a free-jazz blowing session; it's more of a *project*, an overall group sound crafted by Dixon. Challenging and dark, it won't fit the mood of every show.

1- Gradual surge that comes to a head
2- Slow moving; foghorns in pea soup. Builds to a wave that crests gently and fades quickly.
3- Big slow orchestral sweeps. Tiny curls of trumpet.
4- Lumbering notes, then fast chaotic band improv, scribbly.
5- A 10-second, slowly blooming outburst
6- Dark tones again, then an open group improv, abstract and well paced, with lots of sound but lots of space to breathe.
7- Ominous swells with a final outburst at –3:30. Later, a
heart-pounding rush of drums in a nice improv segment.
8- Trumpet: a bright improv solo over bowed bass. Big loud group sounds.
9- The 23-minute opus: Long, lingering flow of group improv. Engaging stuff; can be faded out at will for shorter edits. After –5:00, builds up to a loud avalanche. Applause at the end.
10.11.12,13 – Miniatures: Groany tones for < 1 minute. #11 gets real loud. #13 ends with long applause.

The band:
Bill Dixon - trumpet/composer/conductor
Graham Haynes, Stephen Haynes, Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet/flugelorn
Joseph Daley- tuba
Karen Borca - bassoon
Will Connell - bass clarinet
Michel Cote - Bb contrabass clarinet
Andrew Raffo Dewar - soprano sax
John Hagen - tenor/baritone sax
J.D. Parran - bass sax/bamboo flute
Andrew Lafkas - bass
Glynis Loman - cello
Jackson Krall - drums
Warren Smith - vibes/tympani/drums