By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Balance
This release features two
groups: a jazz quintet backed by a large chamber ensemble, and a jazz
sextet in conjunction with woodwinds and a string quartet. All the music is composed
by Adam Unsworth, who also plays French horn, and composer/arranger Byron
Olson. The result is one of the finest “marriages” of the jazz and
classical genres, that I’ve ever heard.
Unsworth is without peer on
the French horn, and he’s equally adept as a composer/arranger. He’s an
associate professor at the University of Michigan, has been on the faculty at
Temple University, and has appeared as recitalist and clinician at numerous
universities in the State. He also played with the Grammy-nominated Gil
Evans Centenial Project, and has recorded with many other jazz organizations.
Olson has written for
numerous name artists and symphoney orchestras; perhaps his most famous
productions are his Sketches of Miles and Sketches of Coltrane.
Unsworth is joined by John
Vanore (trumpet/flugelhorn), Bob Mallach (tenor sax), Bill Mays (piano), Mike
Richmond (bass) and Danny Gottlieb (drums), and the full ensembles consist of
violins, violas, cellos, flutes and other orchestral instruments.
Everything blends
superbly, with Unsworth, Vanore and their associates delivering stunning,
beautiful and truly swinging music. Don't miss this tour de force!
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