By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Clarity
In
the beginning, jazz was a “blue-collar” profession. Most artists hadn’t earned
more than a high school education; some went on the road without even that
degree, although many continued studies after completing their early careers.
That isn’t the case today; artist biographies often contain references to
colleges and universities that offer advanced degrees up to the doctoral
level.
Consider
the sextet Clarity: Every member has one or more degrees, and each is
associated with advanced teaching institutions, as a member of the faculty at organizations
throughout the country.
Pianist
Michael Kocour is an associate professor and Director of Jazz Studies at
Arizona State University, in Tempe; he also holds a degree in mathematics from
the University of Illinois. Woodwinds player Will Campbell is Director of Jazz
Studies and Associate Director of Saxophone at the University of North Carolina.
Saxophonist Matt Olson is associate professor of saxophone, and Director of
Jazz Studies at South Carolina’s Furman University.
Trumpeter
Vern Sielert has a PhD and teaches at the University of Idaho. Bassist Jon
Hamar teaches at Central Washington University, Northwest University, and
Edmonds Community Colleges in Washington. Drummer Dom Moio also is on the
faculty at Arizona State University, along with a position at Mesa Community
College.
On
top of which, all of these guys have worked with many, many name artists.
This,
Clarity’s debut album, features a blend of bop and straight-ahead jazz; all
concerned excel at it. The 12 tracks are composed/arranged by the various
members of the band. With respect to meter, there’s something for everyone: “Unhinged”
is a hard bop flag-waver, and “Watch
Out of the Way” is another burner. “Clarity” and “Leaving Soon” are ballads,
and the rest are mid-tempo swingers.
The
melodic lines are memorable, and the ensemble passages are cohesive. The solo
work is some of the best I’ve heard; these fellas are true masters of their
instruments.
This
is “thinking jazz”: what results when it’s done by artists who’ve spent their
lives living with — and teaching — music that they obviously love.
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