JULIAN ARGÜELLES - Let It Be Told
Basho Records SRCD 47-2
Julian Argüelles (alto & soprano saxophones); Django Bates (piano. Keyboards); Steve Argüelles (drums, percussion)
Frankfurt Radio Big Band
Heinz-Dieter Saurborn (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone); Oliver Leicht (clarinet, alto clarinet, alto saxophone); Tony Lakatos (tenor saxophone); Rainer Haute (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Frank Wellert, Thomas Vogel, Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gunter Bollman, Peter Fell, Christian Jaksjö, Manfred Honetschläger (trombone); Martin Scales (guitar); Thomas Heiderpriem (electric and acoustic bass); Jean Paul Höchstädter (drums)
Recorded 14-17, 2012
This is Argüelles’ second collaboration with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band on Basho Records following Momenta, and from the opening bars of ‘Mra Khali’ this wonderful album put a smile a on my face.
In a programme of music that includes new arrangements of compositions by Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza and Johnny Dyani, the saxophonist once again demonstrates not only as one of our major soloists but more importantly a creative and imaginative arranger for large ensemble.
The saxophonist is more than a little familiar with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band having been a full time member of the band for some four years, and of course recording the aforementioned Momenta with them. And familiarity, breeding anything but mere content, is the order of the day as Arguelles is just as well acquainted with the other featured musicians, brother Steve and Django Bates with whom he toured and recorded with as part of the Loose Tubes aggregation, and all three are well versed in the works of the dedicatees of this recording, The Blue Notes having played in the bands of Dudu Pukwana and Zila, and Julian being a member of Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath.
The music presented in this programme contains no less than eight original arrangements by Argüelles, and MacGregor’s arrangement of his own ‘Amasi’ and as one would expect the music is full of rhythmic and melodic vitality that is projected with a vibrancy and exuberance by the big band that is truly infectious.
Of the soloists the leader himself delivers a searing solo on the opening track following Django Bates dazzling piano exploits, and whose keyboard outing on ‘You Ain’t Gonna Know Me (‘Cos You Think You Know Me)’ brings to mind the synth patches that he was so fond of with Human Chain and Loose Tubes. It therefore goes to show that despite technology moving on, that in the hands of a maestro a good sound is a good sound and will not sound dated. Mention should also be made of trombonist Peter Feil who takes a fine solo on ‘Retreat Song (Jikele Maweni)’.
However, it is as a whole that this album shines, with the arrangements brimful of imagination that drive the music forward irrepressibly, with perhaps the albums crowning achievement being a glorious arrangement of Abdullah Ibrahim’s ‘The Wedding’ with superb contributions from bass clarinettist Rainer Heute and the alto of Heinz-Deiter Sauerborn, and a truly uplifting arrangement of the traditional ‘Amabutho’.
This is a wholly appropriate and heartfelt tribute to the contributions of the South African musicians who brought so much to jazz, Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani and Chris McG, aka the Blue Notes and the closing number, ‘Come Again’ concludes the album on such a high that it is inevitable one will immediately be hitting the ‘Play’ button for another listen.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Basho Records SRCD 47-2
Julian Argüelles (alto & soprano saxophones); Django Bates (piano. Keyboards); Steve Argüelles (drums, percussion)
Frankfurt Radio Big Band
Heinz-Dieter Saurborn (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone); Oliver Leicht (clarinet, alto clarinet, alto saxophone); Tony Lakatos (tenor saxophone); Rainer Haute (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Frank Wellert, Thomas Vogel, Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gunter Bollman, Peter Fell, Christian Jaksjö, Manfred Honetschläger (trombone); Martin Scales (guitar); Thomas Heiderpriem (electric and acoustic bass); Jean Paul Höchstädter (drums)
Recorded 14-17, 2012
This is Argüelles’ second collaboration with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band on Basho Records following Momenta, and from the opening bars of ‘Mra Khali’ this wonderful album put a smile a on my face.
In a programme of music that includes new arrangements of compositions by Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza and Johnny Dyani, the saxophonist once again demonstrates not only as one of our major soloists but more importantly a creative and imaginative arranger for large ensemble.
The saxophonist is more than a little familiar with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band having been a full time member of the band for some four years, and of course recording the aforementioned Momenta with them. And familiarity, breeding anything but mere content, is the order of the day as Arguelles is just as well acquainted with the other featured musicians, brother Steve and Django Bates with whom he toured and recorded with as part of the Loose Tubes aggregation, and all three are well versed in the works of the dedicatees of this recording, The Blue Notes having played in the bands of Dudu Pukwana and Zila, and Julian being a member of Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath.
The music presented in this programme contains no less than eight original arrangements by Argüelles, and MacGregor’s arrangement of his own ‘Amasi’ and as one would expect the music is full of rhythmic and melodic vitality that is projected with a vibrancy and exuberance by the big band that is truly infectious.
Of the soloists the leader himself delivers a searing solo on the opening track following Django Bates dazzling piano exploits, and whose keyboard outing on ‘You Ain’t Gonna Know Me (‘Cos You Think You Know Me)’ brings to mind the synth patches that he was so fond of with Human Chain and Loose Tubes. It therefore goes to show that despite technology moving on, that in the hands of a maestro a good sound is a good sound and will not sound dated. Mention should also be made of trombonist Peter Feil who takes a fine solo on ‘Retreat Song (Jikele Maweni)’.
However, it is as a whole that this album shines, with the arrangements brimful of imagination that drive the music forward irrepressibly, with perhaps the albums crowning achievement being a glorious arrangement of Abdullah Ibrahim’s ‘The Wedding’ with superb contributions from bass clarinettist Rainer Heute and the alto of Heinz-Deiter Sauerborn, and a truly uplifting arrangement of the traditional ‘Amabutho’.
This is a wholly appropriate and heartfelt tribute to the contributions of the South African musicians who brought so much to jazz, Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani and Chris McG, aka the Blue Notes and the closing number, ‘Come Again’ concludes the album on such a high that it is inevitable one will immediately be hitting the ‘Play’ button for another listen.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
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