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David Caffey Jazz Orchestra: At the Edge of Spring

By Jack Bowers
February 13, 2025
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David Caffey Jazz Orchestra: At the Edge of Spring

With his album, At the Edge of Spring, composer and arranger

David Caffey

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">David Caffey and his Colorado-based Jazz Orchestra not only defy the widely-held belief that big bands are dead, they emphatically blow that axium out of the water. This is an ensemble with no discernible weaknesses, as proficient and powerful as any that have come before it or are likely to follow. To verify that impression, you need only couple your ears with an open mind.

As icing on that auspicious cake, the orchestra has the pleasure of performing eight of Caffey's luminous charts, not one of which is less than perceptive and inspiring, and five of his well-drawn compositions (guitarist

Steve Kovalcheck

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Kovalcheck wrote "Old Hat,"

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter the session's last two numbers, "One by One" and "This Is for Albert"). Above all, they house the most potent weapon in any big band's arsenal: the ability to swing on any cue and at any given moment.

That capacity is clear from the first notes of the bright and prismatic opener, "Starlight" (as in "Stella By?") through the last shout chorus on "This Is for Albert." There is no letdown between them, as the orchestra smoothly slices and dices its way through the seductive title song, the ambling "Old Hat," rhythmic "Brazilian Dances for Brooklyn," the waltz-like "The Brothers" and rock-based "Direct Current." The ensemble is on its game from the outset, as are its stellar soloists, starting with tenor saxophonist

Peter Sommer

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Sommer and pianist

Dana Landry

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Dana Landry on "Starlight."

Others who leave an indelible mark are Kovalcheck ("Edge of Spring," "Old Hat," "Direct Current"), altos

Wil Swindler

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Wil Swindler ("Edge of Spring") and

Drew Zaremba

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Drew Zaremba ("The Brothers"), tenor

Andrew Janak

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Janak ("Brazilian Dances," "One by One"), drummer

Jim White

drums
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim White ("Edge of Spring," "Old Hat," "Brazilian Dances," "The Brothers"), trumpeters

Shawn Williams

trumpet
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Shawn Williams ("Edge of Spring") and

Brad Goode

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Goode ("One by One," "This Is for Albert") and trombonist

Jonathan Bumpus

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Bumpus ("One by One"). Enticing the heart on every number, however, are Caffey's superlative arrangements, which include elaborate soli for saxophones, trombones and even trumpets on "Starlight" and dense unison passages across the board, winding curves and sinewy contrasts designed to test even the most seasoned musicians and coupling xylophone with marimba to amplify color on "Old Hat" and flute with vibraphone on "Brazilian Dances."

While its premise may lie At the Edge of Spring, every other aspect of this strong and adventurous album is no less than dead-center. And whereas Caffey deserves the lion's share of credit for that, neither should the marvelous performance of his world-class orchestra be discounted. A strong and tasteful effort from start to finish.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Starlight; At the Edge of Spring; Old Hat; Brazilian Dances for Brooklyn; The Brothers; Direct Current; One by One; This Is for Albert.

Personnel

David Caffey

composer / conductor

Jake Boldman

trumpet

Brad Goode

trumpet

Steve Hawk

trumpet

Shawn Williams

trumpet

Wil Swindler

woodwinds

Drew Zaremba

saxophone

Peter Sommer

saxophone, tenor

Andrew Janak

saxophone

Glenn Kostur

saxophone, alto

Jonathan Bumpus

trombone

John Mathews

bass

Darren Kramer

trombone

Gary Mayne

trombone, bass

Steve Kovalcheck

guitar

Dana Landry

piano

Erik Applegate

bass

Jim White

drums

Joshua Zepeda

percussion

Album information

Title: At the Edge of Spring | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Self Produced

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