Description
From Allmusic.com:
OTB have made great strides in the past 15 years to lead the way in innovation amongst large modern ensembles. On these concert sessions from N.Y.C., Berlin, and Nijmegen, the Netherlands, the George Schuller-led group shows a love for Balkan-cum-Weill/Carla Bley circus jazz, free improvisation in and out of frameworks, a grand collective spirit, a propensity for seven-beat measures, dark swinging, maniacal solos, and an intense desire to be different.
The five saxophonists — Chris Speed, Andrew D’Angelo, Andy Laster, Peck Allmond, and Matt Darriau — are continually astonishing. Keyboardists Jamie Saft and Tim Ray are up to the challenge when called upon. Tom Varner, French horn throughout, the amazing cellist Rufus Cappadocia (one cut), and drummer Schuller keep things in line, whether percolatin’ or spooky. The cellist’s feature “Rufus 7” (there’s that seven) is the last of three cuts that front-end the CD. The kicker, “Alino Oro,” is the quirky upbeat Balkan piece, while number two, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “Smada” (arranged by trumpeter Dave Ballou) is laden in a flip-flop, free-to-tango swing, dramatic and replete with clarion calls — a simply brilliant reworking. The latter half of the nine-cut program offers a lengthy interpretation of Tim Berne’s pungent stomper “Bloodcount” and an evil, wailin’ take (recorded in the Netherlands) of Andrew D’Angelo’s seven-beat ostinato juggernaut “Sich Reped.”
Steadfast in their stance, reliable improvisers such as the OTB collective should never be taken lightly. This around-the-world audio triptych of a well-oiled creative working ensemble is over 70 minutes of sheer delight.
Recorded live in Germany, Holland and New York. In the big band tradition of Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington, Orange Then Blue has been a proving ground for much great talent — Dave Douglas, George Garzone, Matt Darriau, Chris Speed.
Included in this exciting live release — their sixth on GM Recordings — are five originals, new arrangements of tunes by Billy Strayhorn, Hermeto Pascoal and Tim Berne, and a sizzling Balkan march.
To check out other Orange Then Blue releases on GM Recordings, please see tag above…
”“[OTB] excavates uninhibitedly in the quarries of jazz history, freely appropriating themes, sounds and styles, dismembering them and unashamedly splicing them all together in daring new combinations ... provocative, ebullient music!”
—Berlin Jazz Festival, recording site for “Smada” and “Stentor”
PERFORMERS
Chris Speed, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Andrew D’Angelo,alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Andy Laster, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute; Peck Allmond, soprano saxophone, trumpet, E-flat alto horn; Cuong Vu, Dave Ballou, trumpet; Tom Varner, French horn; Jim Leff, trombone; Jose Davila, tuba; Jamie Saft, piano, accordion; Reid Anderson, bass; George Schuller, drums, percussion, tiny bells;
with Matt Darriau, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute (3,4,6); Seido Salisfoski, dumbek, percussion (1,3); Marcus Rojas, tuba (4,6);
Tim Ray, piano (4,6); Ben Street, bass (4,6)
PROGRAM
1. Alino Oro (Balkan Traditional) 4:27
2. Smada (Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, arr Dave Ballou) 8:35
3. Rufus 7 (Cappadocia, Darriau, arr Matt Darriau) 11:45
4. Peregrinations (Darriau) 7:04
5. RE.Scatter (Chris Speed) 8:03
6. Nem Um Talvez (Hermeto Pascoal, orch Darriau) 4:55
7. Bloodcount (Tim Berne, arr Andrew D’Angelo) 14:30
8. Stentor (Andy Laster) 6:10
9. Sich Reped (D’Angelo) 7:32
Recorded on (4,6) April 1, 1994 at Fez Under Time Cafe, NYC; (2,8) Nov. 3, 1995 at JazzFest Berlin, Germany; (1,3,5,9) Nov. 5, 1995 at 11th Music Meeting in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and (7) Nov. 8, 1995 at The Knitting Factory, NYC.
Producer: George Schuller
Executive Producer: Gunther Schuller
ALSO AVAILABLE
Also available for downloads on Amazon as well as other digital sites.
