Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Cory Wright Outfit: Apples + Oranges

Cory Wright Outfit: Apples + Oranges

By Glenn Astarita
December 27, 2013
View read count

Oakland, California based reedman Cory Wright (

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton,

Vinny Golia

woodwinds
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinny Golia &

" data-original-title="" title="">Yusef Lateef delivers a manifold and juxtaposing ensemble date on Apples + Oranges. It doesn't take too long to determine that the album poses a surfeit of diagonally opposed viewpoints. Other than the highly emphatic and synergistic group-centric output, Wright's compositions hit the mark, and this is one of those very special endeavors that excites, entertains and sustains interest.

Wright's involvement with visionary composer and improviser, Anthony Braxton seems to have assimilated into some of these pieces. However, the band's buoyant mode of operation is coupled with a feisty disposition. They execute highly charged free- bop, featuring whirling sax choruses by Wright and

Evan Francis

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Francis while flirting with the chamber-jazz element during "Low Impact Critter," modeled on incongruously arranged metrics and spunky multipart dialogues amid several paradigm shifts and sprightly aerial assaults.

Wright leads the Outfit through bracing swing, bop, and ballad segments via shifting parameters that seamlessly flow and interconnect. Each piece contains massive doses of pop and sizzle. And "Whaticism," is a song-form designed with unorthodox extended note opuses that burst out of nowhere, reinforced by

Lisa Mezzacappa

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Lisa Mezzacappa's earthen-toned bass notes, leading to a pre-planned breakdown. However, the "The Sea and Space" contains a sleek luster due to Francis' complex flute phrasings in unison with Wright, and trombonist

Rob Ewing

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Ewing's burly solo. Here, the ensemble yields a controlled semblance of well-coordinated abstractions.

The musicians dish out minimalism and microtonal, free- form dialogues while also reverse-engineering various activities. Other regions of sound are constructed on pumping grooves and, changeable motifs that are heavily outlined upon variable cadences. Consequently, "St. Bruno's Purview" is a mid-tempo burner atop a quasi, New Orleans 2nd line March pattern, hued with animated horn passages. Without further ado, Apples + Oranges warrants serious consideration for a spot in many year-end top-10 lists.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Freddie Awaits The Sleepers; Low Impact Critter; St. Bruno��s Preview; Whaticism; The Sea And Space; St. Bruno��s Review; Eyedrop; St. Bruno��s Purview.

Personnel

Cory Wright

saxophone

Cory Wright: tenor saxophone, Bb clarinet; Evan Francis: alto saxophone, flute; Rob Ewing: trombone; Lisa Mezzacappa: bass; Jordan Glenn: drums.

Album information

Title: Apples + Oranges | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Singlespeed Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Shades of Fish
< Previous

Wayne Shorter: Portrait Of A Visiona...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.