TORONTO JAZZ ORCHESTRA - 20
Josh Grossman: artistic director, conductor; Steve Dyte: trumpet; James Rhodes: trumpet; Alexander Brown: trumpet; John Pittman: trumpet; Chris Roberts: alto, soprano sax, flute; Jake Koffman: alto sax, flute; Paul Metcalfe: tenor sax, clarinet; Chris Hunsburger: tenor sax, clarinet; Shirantha Beddage: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Christian Overton: trombone; Pat Blanchard: trombone; Mark Grieve: trombone; Sylvain Bedard: bass trombone; Todd Elsliger: guitar; Carissa Neufeld: piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer; Mark Godfrey: acoustic, electric bass; Ben Ball: drums; Luis Orbegoso: percussion.
Why is it that Canadian orchestras sound as if they have all been schooled by Kenny Wheeler? Is there a Canadian style: cool, wide open, spacious, mature welcoming and restrained, avoiding excess? This whole album is celebrating the arranging and composing of the orchestra leader Josh Grossman. Grossman’s writing is in the tradition: nothing that is raucously innovatory but very satisfying. Need a comparison? Think Maria Schneider and Wheeler. They are not Darcy James Argue or Gil Evans who both were initially nurtured in Canada but went away to develop their styles.
The four movement suite ‘4PN’ is celebrating the life of Phil Nimmons. Nimmons, now in his nineties, is a teacher, writer, arranger, and clarinettist, better known in Canada than he is in the wider world, a situation that many Canadians feel is unjust. The suite has solo space for clarinetist Paul Metcalf, trombonist Chris Overson altoist Jake Koffman and guitarist Todd Elsiger.
Grossman’s writing is essentially conventional. Nothing wrong with that. John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Dear Prudence" as interpreted by Brad Mehldau was the inspiration behind the arrangement for the splendid trombone section and the innate nobility of the trombone sound is emphasised.
This is a repertory band. Listening to the varied pieces here you get the impression that they could play anything brilliantly that is put on their music stands. If this album is anything to go by, an evening listening to Tjo would leave you very satisfied.
The writing and the playing have a supple strength and above all great honesty. It is intriguing to listen to music that celebrates parenthood and children. Grossman dedicates the first piece ‘Georgie and Rose’ to his ‘two amazing children who have forever changed my life.’ ‘The Blob’ is about the anticipation of becoming a parent!
This is splendid music which is a pleasure to listen to with amazing musicians who can work at a variety of tempos. The orchestra is celebrating twenty years of existence. All it needs now is to develop their own style so that when we hear it we can say: ‘That’s Tijo.’
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
Josh Grossman: artistic director, conductor; Steve Dyte: trumpet; James Rhodes: trumpet; Alexander Brown: trumpet; John Pittman: trumpet; Chris Roberts: alto, soprano sax, flute; Jake Koffman: alto sax, flute; Paul Metcalfe: tenor sax, clarinet; Chris Hunsburger: tenor sax, clarinet; Shirantha Beddage: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Christian Overton: trombone; Pat Blanchard: trombone; Mark Grieve: trombone; Sylvain Bedard: bass trombone; Todd Elsliger: guitar; Carissa Neufeld: piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer; Mark Godfrey: acoustic, electric bass; Ben Ball: drums; Luis Orbegoso: percussion.
Why is it that Canadian orchestras sound as if they have all been schooled by Kenny Wheeler? Is there a Canadian style: cool, wide open, spacious, mature welcoming and restrained, avoiding excess? This whole album is celebrating the arranging and composing of the orchestra leader Josh Grossman. Grossman’s writing is in the tradition: nothing that is raucously innovatory but very satisfying. Need a comparison? Think Maria Schneider and Wheeler. They are not Darcy James Argue or Gil Evans who both were initially nurtured in Canada but went away to develop their styles.
The four movement suite ‘4PN’ is celebrating the life of Phil Nimmons. Nimmons, now in his nineties, is a teacher, writer, arranger, and clarinettist, better known in Canada than he is in the wider world, a situation that many Canadians feel is unjust. The suite has solo space for clarinetist Paul Metcalf, trombonist Chris Overson altoist Jake Koffman and guitarist Todd Elsiger.
Grossman’s writing is essentially conventional. Nothing wrong with that. John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Dear Prudence" as interpreted by Brad Mehldau was the inspiration behind the arrangement for the splendid trombone section and the innate nobility of the trombone sound is emphasised.
This is a repertory band. Listening to the varied pieces here you get the impression that they could play anything brilliantly that is put on their music stands. If this album is anything to go by, an evening listening to Tjo would leave you very satisfied.
The writing and the playing have a supple strength and above all great honesty. It is intriguing to listen to music that celebrates parenthood and children. Grossman dedicates the first piece ‘Georgie and Rose’ to his ‘two amazing children who have forever changed my life.’ ‘The Blob’ is about the anticipation of becoming a parent!
This is splendid music which is a pleasure to listen to with amazing musicians who can work at a variety of tempos. The orchestra is celebrating twenty years of existence. All it needs now is to develop their own style so that when we hear it we can say: ‘That’s Tijo.’
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
