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Brendan Lanighan Octet: A Little Optimism

By Jack Bowers
June 9, 2023
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A Little Optimism, trombonist

Brendan Lanighan

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Brendan Lanighan believes, can often go a long way. That is the essential message of the Lanighan Octet's debut recording, a pleasurable pastiche of original compositions by the Buffalo, NY-born trombonist plus a pair of enduring standards that share a springtime theme and the name Richard Rodgers as composer.

Along the way, Lanighan pays homage to one of his early heroes, the late tenor saxophonist

Michael Brecker

saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Brecker ("All Day Breckfest"); to another Buffalo-born jazz luminary, trumpeter

Sam Noto

trumpet
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Noto ("Noto-Rioty"); and to his cherished Irish heritage ("Finck Tank"), the last of which features an appearance by violinist

Willa Finck

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Willa Finck. The standards are "Spring Is Here" by Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, and "It Might as Well Be Spring" by Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. They are separated by Lanighan's brief "Spring Interlude."

As is true in most households, "Breckfest" starts the day, and this one has all the ingredients of a satisfying meal, dancing happily along behind luminous solos by Lanighan, tenor

Elliot Scozzaro

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Elliot Scozzaro and drummer

Eric Metzgar

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Metzgar. There is a hint of

Kai Winding

trombone
1922 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Kai Winding and

J.J. Johnson

trombone
1924 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">J.J. Johnson in Lanighan's breezy arrangement, a pattern that is repeated on the lively "Noto-Rioty," wherein

Colin Gordon

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Colin Gordon and

Mark Filsinger

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Filsinger frame dashing solos on alto sax and trumpet, respectively.

"A Little Optimism," written during the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, opens on a relatively subdued note before Metzgar and the ensemble take charge, lending essential buoyancy to the theme. If the earnest "Frank-ly" has a dedicatee, he or she is unnamed (

Frank Rosolino

trombone
1926 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Rosolino, perhaps?). What it does have are splendid solos by Lanighan, bassist

Emiliano Lasansky

bass
b.1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Emiliano Lasansky and Gordon, this time on baritone sax.

Lanighan's supple trombone is showcased with pianist

Nick Weiser

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Weiser on his burnished arrangement of "It Might as Well Be Spring," which precedes another of the album's high spots, the playful "Little Garlic Knot" (Lanighan solos again, and there is a superb flute solo, even though no one on the album is listed as playing flute). Lanighan's second brief interlude, this one titled "Optimism," leads to the spirited finale, "Finck Tank," whose Irish theme is supplanted midstream by a more amorphous strain (and solo to match by Scozzaro) before returning to wrap the package. In sum, an ardent and colorful debut by a talented group of musicians who play with focus and enthusiasm.

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Track Listing

All Day Breckfest; Frank-ly; A Little Optimism; Noto-Rioty; Spring Is Here; Spring Interlude; It Might as Well Be Spring; Little Garlic Knot; Optimism Interlude; Finck Tank.

Personnel

Brendan Lanighan

trombone

Mark Filsinger

trumpet

Elliot Scozzaro

saxophone, alto

C.J. Ziarniak

saxophone, tenor

Colin Gordon

saxophone

Nick Weiser

piano

Eric Metzgar

drums

Emiliano Lasansky

bass

Willa Finck

violin

Album information

Title: A Little Optimism | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced

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