JCA ORCHESTRA - Live At The BPC
JCA Recordings 1805
Large orchestra conducted by Tino D Agostino, including Phil Scarff (ts, ss, Cl); Melanie Howell-Brooks ((bar,bcl); Rick Stone (as); Mimi Robson (vln)
Recorded Boston 2020.
Recorded live at the Boston Performance Centre, this big orchestra mixes bop with occasional forays into free territory. They are extremely well organised and full of solo talent with all the usual horns associated with big band jazz plus five string violins, cello and the not too well known ews, known as an electronic wind instrument. Various members of the ensemble take turns to compose and there is much musical variety in the six extended selections here, played in front of an enthusiastic audience; quiet during performance but very vocal in applause at the end. Romanopole is based on two Roman empires and has Scarff featured on tenor sax and Helen Sherrah Davies on 5 string violin. Lots of musical colour here with a staccato approach to the ensembles and the odd low bass interjection from the tuba played by David Harris. The Latest is inspired by a 1976 McCoy Tyner big band album and has the composer imagining what it would sound like with Thai musicians added in. Melanie Howell- Brooks plays a lively baritone sax solo, her lines complex but delivered skilfully.
This music is basically hard bop with contemporary overtones and many varied tone colours. The solos are all lively, inventive and flow naturally out of the ensemble. Sometimes a measure of dissonance creeps in but its all part of the creative process for this bright, swinging ensemble. They end with astraight ahead swinger, Super Eyes which ends the recital on a high note.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
JCA Recordings 1805
Large orchestra conducted by Tino D Agostino, including Phil Scarff (ts, ss, Cl); Melanie Howell-Brooks ((bar,bcl); Rick Stone (as); Mimi Robson (vln)
Recorded Boston 2020.
Recorded live at the Boston Performance Centre, this big orchestra mixes bop with occasional forays into free territory. They are extremely well organised and full of solo talent with all the usual horns associated with big band jazz plus five string violins, cello and the not too well known ews, known as an electronic wind instrument. Various members of the ensemble take turns to compose and there is much musical variety in the six extended selections here, played in front of an enthusiastic audience; quiet during performance but very vocal in applause at the end. Romanopole is based on two Roman empires and has Scarff featured on tenor sax and Helen Sherrah Davies on 5 string violin. Lots of musical colour here with a staccato approach to the ensembles and the odd low bass interjection from the tuba played by David Harris. The Latest is inspired by a 1976 McCoy Tyner big band album and has the composer imagining what it would sound like with Thai musicians added in. Melanie Howell- Brooks plays a lively baritone sax solo, her lines complex but delivered skilfully.
This music is basically hard bop with contemporary overtones and many varied tone colours. The solos are all lively, inventive and flow naturally out of the ensemble. Sometimes a measure of dissonance creeps in but its all part of the creative process for this bright, swinging ensemble. They end with astraight ahead swinger, Super Eyes which ends the recital on a high note.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
