AARDVARK
JAZZ ORCHESTRA - Impressions
Leo Records CD LR 695
The orchestra may consist of up to 23 musicians led by Mark Harvey (piano, trumpet) and this new album features compositions by him. Much of the music is redolent of that which used to be called 'tone poems' and there is nothing wrong with that as it is distinctly impressionistic. It seems, at times, tentatively probing, due no doubt to its intended referencing of events in the recent, political history of the city of Boston. Many of the pieces are intensely lyrical, musically speaking, but the longer tracks, especially The Journey and Neanderthaleology, leave that mood behind, displaying shifting moods that may reflect brooding, emotion, passion, frustration, anger; in doing so they become almost colossal.
Mark Harvey teaches jazz studies and composition at MIT. He has played with Kenny Dorham, Gil Evans, Howard McGhee, Sam Rivers and George Russell among others.
Here is an album of exceptional music in which the composer has meticulously explored the full range of tonalities available to him through the spectra provided by the instrumentation: 8 woodwinds, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 guitars, piano, 2 string basses, drums and 2 voices.
This is a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable album.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
Leo Records CD LR 695
The orchestra may consist of up to 23 musicians led by Mark Harvey (piano, trumpet) and this new album features compositions by him. Much of the music is redolent of that which used to be called 'tone poems' and there is nothing wrong with that as it is distinctly impressionistic. It seems, at times, tentatively probing, due no doubt to its intended referencing of events in the recent, political history of the city of Boston. Many of the pieces are intensely lyrical, musically speaking, but the longer tracks, especially The Journey and Neanderthaleology, leave that mood behind, displaying shifting moods that may reflect brooding, emotion, passion, frustration, anger; in doing so they become almost colossal.
Mark Harvey teaches jazz studies and composition at MIT. He has played with Kenny Dorham, Gil Evans, Howard McGhee, Sam Rivers and George Russell among others.
Here is an album of exceptional music in which the composer has meticulously explored the full range of tonalities available to him through the spectra provided by the instrumentation: 8 woodwinds, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 guitars, piano, 2 string basses, drums and 2 voices.
This is a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable album.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham