Great Deals Of Lush Joe Clark Big Band
It has been a long time since I have heard new music filled with so many fresh ideas and with such energy.--and with such a high success rate in advancing the musical cause at hand. Lush, by the Joe Clark Big Band, signals the emergence of a formidable musical thinker, gifted as a composer, arranger, bandleader, and musician. This 52-minute release on the JazzedMedia label is an auspicious and memorable debut, one which also spotlights the brilliant veteran drummer Jeff Hamilton, as well as tenor saxophonist Chris Madsen, alto player Dan Nicholson, and others.
The album's eight tracks are split between standards and very fine originals. The former includes compositions like Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't." Of the originals, one is by Hamilton--the Brazilian-inflected "Samba de Martelo"--and three are by Clark. All of the songs are given muscular and spirited interpretations by an ensemble of 21 musicians, mainly horn players. The result is an abundance of music that is alive in the fullest sense. This is no small feat, considering that, apart from a single rehearsal, this group had never played together before.
Some of the soloing is breathtaking, particularly by Chris Madsen on "Lush Life." All of the compositions benefit from Clark's arranging, especially "Tenderly," which wins through pure stellar stately beauty. He approaches the standards with fresh eyes--and with a bracing curiosity about the composers' original intentions. Both covers and originals benefit from the intense attention Clark devotes to each bar of music. His arrangements develop the musical ideas of a given song to its fullest amplitude. Miles Davis once told Downbeat Magazine that a horn section can sound good, as long as it doesn't repeat too much. Clark takes that line of thought to a whole new plane. The arrangements are fluid and surprising. They reflect a reconception of what accompaniment means; it is the opposite of the repetitive vamp dronecraft we are used to. It is closer to a supportive consciousness with a voice distinctly its own. The brass section comments on the foreground melodies, but it also engages in dialogue passages. The writing at times gets complex, but it feels nimble and punchy because it feeds the forward momentum of the songs. Central to this feat is the superb rhythm section led by drummer Jeff Hamilton. This band swings really hard, elegant voicings and all.
A high point of the album is "Femme Fatale," a Clark composition that conveys the narcotic combination of elegance and edginess, attraction and anxiety, of a true femme fatale. It succeeds both as a powerful and stylish piece of music, and as a character study. In this song and others, an unexpected gift for theatrical drama emerges in Clark's thinking. "Lush" is a superb piece of music, an introduction to a musical vision definitely worth watching.
Dan UrsiniLush
This album not only features one the best culminations of Chicago's best musicians-spearheaded by legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton-it features beautiful and intricate arrangements written by Joe Clark himself. I'm proud to say that I have this album, A+ in my book. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves jazz or who's interested in great music made by real musicians. Swingin' stuff, can't wait for the next album!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I have heard new music filled with so many fresh ideas and with such energy.--and with such a high success rate in advancing the musical cause at hand. Lush, by the Joe Clark Big Band, signals the emergence of a formidable musical thinker, gifted as a composer, arranger, bandleader, and musician. This 52-minute release on the JazzedMedia label is an auspicious and memorable debut, one which also spotlights the brilliant veteran drummer Jeff Hamilton, as well as tenor saxophonist Chris Madsen, alto player Dan Nicholson, and others.
ReplyDeleteThe album's eight tracks are split between standards and very fine originals. The former includes compositions like Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't." Of the originals, one is by Hamilton--the Brazilian-inflected "Samba de Martelo"--and three are by Clark. All of the songs are given muscular and spirited interpretations by an ensemble of 21 musicians, mainly horn players. The result is an abundance of music that is alive in the fullest sense. This is no small feat, considering that, apart from a single rehearsal, this group had never played together before.
Some of the soloing is breathtaking, particularly by Chris Madsen on "Lush Life." All of the compositions benefit from Clark's arranging, especially "Tenderly," which wins through pure stellar stately beauty. He approaches the standards with fresh eyes--and with a bracing curiosity about the composers' original intentions. Both covers and originals benefit from the intense attention Clark devotes to each bar of music. His arrangements develop the musical ideas of a given song to its fullest amplitude. Miles Davis once told Downbeat Magazine that a horn section can sound good, as long as it doesn't repeat too much. Clark takes that line of thought to a whole new plane. The arrangements are fluid and surprising. They reflect a reconception of what accompaniment means; it is the opposite of the repetitive vamp dronecraft we are used to. It is closer to a supportive consciousness with a voice distinctly its own. The brass section comments on the foreground melodies, but it also engages in dialogue passages. The writing at times gets complex, but it feels nimble and punchy because it feeds the forward momentum of the songs. Central to this feat is the superb rhythm section led by drummer Jeff Hamilton. This band swings really hard, elegant voicings and all.
A high point of the album is "Femme Fatale," a Clark composition that conveys the narcotic combination of elegance and edginess, attraction and anxiety, of a true femme fatale. It succeeds both as a powerful and stylish piece of music, and as a character study. In this song and others, an unexpected gift for theatrical drama emerges in Clark's thinking. "Lush" is a superb piece of music, an introduction to a musical vision definitely worth watching.
Dan UrsiniLush