Jazz Views
  • Home
  • Album Reviews
  • Interviews
    • Take Five
  • Musician's Playlist
  • Articles & Features
  • Contact Us
  • Book Reviews
Return to Index
Picture
PETER FURLAN PROJECT - Between The Lines

Beany Bops Music PF1

Peter Furlan (ts,ss); Cutro (t,flh); Roger Rosenberg (bar); Andrew Beals (as); Erick Storckman (tb); Neil Alexander (p,elp); Peter Brendler (b); Nadav Snir-Zeiniker (d); Saul Rubin (elg); David Budway (p) 
Recorded Paramas, NJ 2019

This is what jazz folks usually call a little big band. The ten piece unit under Peter Furlan sound big enough and are very well integrated. The ensembles are played with precision and a lot of thought seems to have gone into producing various different tone colours. Several tracks are enhanced by Rosenberg’s baritone sax both in his contributions to the opening phrases of the ensemble and his crusty solos. And he adds considerable weight to the bass line throughout. Furlan himself is, as you might expect, the main soloist on tenor and occasionally soprano sax. Most of the band get a solo spot however. Alexander features on piano on all but two selections. Budway plays on the other two. On Invisible Rosenberg switches to bass clarinet for an inventive solo and is followed by the leader and then Brendler on bass.

Furlan has developed his own variation of a ‘Concept Album’ by writing songs based on his favourite fiction books. As I haven’t read any of the ten books cited I can’t say how well they are represented but in general terms this is a good, well written CD, all the music by Furlan. It certainly has a distinctive sound and the sound colours produced are unique to Furlan’s little orchestra. Furlan has worked with many important jazz people and has a long list of playing and recording credits. The music on all tracks has a distinctive flavour, in some ways like the old Gil Evans orchestras when Gil recorded under his own name. All the tracks are originals so whether any of them will be played in the near or distant future is open to speculation. For the here and now though, this is a very good session.
​
Reviewed by Derek Ansell

Picture