Reviewed: 2020—04 – 24
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: A 17-piece big band out of Chicago that specializes in performing original pieces arranged by band members. The horn section is distinctive, the soloists all have something to say, and the rhythm section is versatile. There’s little reference to the past, and the band is constantly looking forward and pushing the envelope of what is possible
If You Like: Roscoe Mitchell Creative Orchestra, Charles Mingus Big Band
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Boombox (5:43) – piano/horns start hesitating> uptempo jam> quick stop
2/ Nevertheless, She Persisted (6:50) – organ starts> midtempo jam builds in volume> fade
*3/ Subject/Verb/Object (6:04) – horns start> fast tempo jam> quick stop> melody shift> fade
4/ Four Sides Of The Circle (7:59) – piano starts> heavy midtempo jam with chorus swings into rocking uptempo jam, then slides back> quick fade
*5/ Plasma (6:08) – drums start>uptempo jam> quick stop
6/ Mahler 3. Movement 1 (12:35) – horns start> slow tempo jam slowly builds in volume & intensity> melody shift> slow tempo jam builds in volume & intensity> crescendo end
The Basketball Suite:
*7/ Switch Everything (7:21) – bass starts> mellow swinging uptempo jam> fade on bass, then horns
8/ Point Giannis 5:58) – bass starts> midtempo jam> crescendo end
*9/ Schedule Loss (6:23) – horns start menacingly> heavy midtempo swings into uptempo danceable jam slows to slow tempo> slow fade
*10/ Gradient (7:08) – synth/horns start slow, swing into midtempo jam> builds in volume & intensity> crescendo end.