Hold the Elevator: Live in Europe & Other Haunts [Live]

Hold the Elevator: Live in Europe & Other Haunts [Live]

ASIN: B00000IB2H

Editorial Reviews
From Jazziz
Not only does Orange Then Blue rank among the best jazz big bands of the past few decades, it's also among the most adventurous. Here, the band is heard live on 1994 and 1995 selections. By then, the band, founded by drummer George Schuller and woodwind player Matt Darriau and containing a core of musicians who attended the New England Conservatory of Music, had already built an impressive repertoire. Orange Then Blue, mainly because of Darriau's influence, pioneered in synthesizing Balkan music and jazz, as Chris Speed's arrangement of the traditional Balkan piece "Alino Oro" illustrates. Alto saxman Andrew D'Angelo contributes "Sich Reped," which employs 7/8 against 10/8 meters. Darriau's "Peregrinations" uses frequent tempo changes. Some of the charts here - Andy Laster's "Stentor," Speed's "RE.Scatter," and Dave Ballou's deconstruction of Billy Strayhorn's "Smada" - employ musical cells in contrapuntal ensemble sections. Three themes, each played at a different tempo, are used simultaneously on D'Angelo's arrangement of Tim Berne's "Bloodcount." Hermeto Pascoal's "Nem um Talvez" is beautifully and subtly orchestrated by Darriau. The band has an unusual makeup, containing a French horn, a tuba, and an e-flat alto horn, which is played by Peck Allmond. He not only lends a unique color to the ensemble but takes an excellent solo on "Peregrinations." Other impressive spots are contributed by trumpeters Cuong Vu, alto saxophonists D'Angelo and Laster, and pianist Jamie Saft. Schuller is a very tasty, musical drummer who plays cleanly and buoyantly. Like the band itself, he deserves more attention.

Tracks:

Alino Oro
Smada
Rufus 7
Peregrinations
RE. Scatter
Nem Um Talvez
Bloodcount
Stentor
Sich Reped

Customer Reviews:

Modern Big Band Jazz.......2001-01-04

A good recording by some of the best talent in Downtown jazz. The musical line-up is not what you normally see in a band what with the tubas, dumbeks, cello, and French horn - and they all get their chance to solo. Also features Chris Speed, Cuong Vu, Andy Laster, Matt Darriau, Andrew D'Angelo - some of the best brass or woodwind players working. Overall, the arrangements have a European bent; for a contrast Julius Hemphill's big band used a similar orchestration and the results had just as much elegance but a little more swagger. "Hold the Elevator" also contains the shortest recorded version of Tim Berne's "Bloodcount", clocking in at a mere 14:30.

Recommeded to fans of Tim Berne, Chris Speed, Dave Douglas, etc...

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music