By Ric Bang
Buy CD: How to Say Goodbye
Ken
Schaphorst chairs the Jazz Studies Department at Boston’s New England
Conservatory (NEC), a position he has held since 2001. He served as director of
Jazz Studies at Wisconsin’s Lawrence University for almost 10 years prior to
that; he received a doctorate of music arts in 1990, and is a teacher, composer
and bandleader.
Oh,
yes; he also plays trumpet and Fender Rhodes on this release, his fourth big band
album. It’s one of the finest full-scale jazz ensembles I’ve ever reviewed.
Schaphorst
composed and arranged all 10 charts: homages that honor jazz visionaries Bob
Brookmeyer and Herb Pomeroy, who were mentors, colleagues and fellow performers
at NEC. This unit’s 19-piece ensemble features five trumpets/flugelhorns, five
reeds, four trombones, and a rhythm section of piano, guitar, bass, drums and
percussion. The album is sensational:
It doesn't “scream” or excite, but it features some of the smoothest, most beautifully
written charts ever produced.
Schaphorst
has taught, mentored or worked with all the band members during his busy
career. All possess years of experience, having played with a veritable Who’s
Who in the jazz world; we're talking about associations that have lasted up to
30 years or more, in some cases.
Because
these folks have worked together so much, the result is perfection during each
chart’s ensemble sections. Further, the support provided during the solo
passages enhances each featured artist; it's like the “solo” has been heard
previously, and Schaphorst then wrote and arranged the ensemble passages to
match.
It
bears repeating: This band may not roar, grab
you by the throat, or leave you breathless, but Schaphorst and his fellow
artists deliver thoughtful, beautiful jazz that you’ll visit again and
again.
Do not
miss this one!
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