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Dan Pugach Big Band: Bianca

By Jack Bowers
April 5, 2024
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Dan Pugach

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Pugach is an Israeli-born, New York-based drummer who doubles (quite well) as composer and arranger on Bianca, his second recording for Outside In Music. Pugach anchors a splendid big band comprised of some of the New York area's finest musicians on an album whose subtitle is "Music for Paws and Persistence."

The "paws" were those of the Pugach family's rescue pit-bull, Bianca, who passed away in 2019 and left a gaping hole in their lives, as he was, Pugach writes, "a gentle soul" who was "a big part of our musical journey," hanging with the band at the Stowe (VT) Jazz Festival and its regular gigs at New York's greatly missed 55 Bar, and taking part in many music videos. "Bianca," which premiered at a BMI Jazz Composers showcase concert, earned the BMI

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker Composition Prize—and served as the inspiration for this album.

Pugach writes with melody in mind, and each of his half-dozen compositions carries the listener gently along on an impressive pathway of pleasant sound. The iridescent opener, "Tolerance," written during the height of the Covid pandemic, offers hints of Pugach's Israeli heritage as it underlines earnest solos by trombonist

Mike Fahie

trombone
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Fahie and alto saxophonist

Patrick Cornelius

saxophone, alto
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Patrick Cornelius. The warm-hearted "Bianca" is next, followed by the lryical "Bella the Bear," written as an homage to the Pugach's most recent rescue dog, a "temporary" redemption that had lasted four years when the album was recorded. Solos on "Bianca" are by tenor

Eitan Gofman

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Eitan Gofman and trumpeter

Stuart Mack

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Stuart Mack, on "Bella" by trombonist

Jasim Perales

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jasim Perales.

Pugach composed "Masa" ("Journey" in Hebrew) to commemorate his coming to the U.S. and becoming an American citizen, "Schleppin'" as a reminder of his first job in the Big Apple, as a "schlepper" (carrier) for a moving company. Pugach, trumpeter

Dave Adewumi

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Adewumi and tenor Jeremy Powell solo on the chorale-like "Masa," bassist

Sam Weber

bass
b.1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Weber, pianist

Nitzan Gavrieli

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Nitzan Gavrieli and trombonist

Alan Ferber

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Ferber on the amiable "Schleppin.'"

Nicole Zuraitis

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Zuraitis wrote "Travel," on which she sings and scats, as she does on Van Halen's rambling "Dreams" (

Pete McCann

guitar
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete McCann, guitar). Pugach returns as composer for the animated finale, "Discourse This!," written during his time as a graduate student at City College of New York. Solos are by Pugach, alto

Andrew Gould

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Gould and trumpeter

Dave Smith

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Smith.

Aside from the vocals—which are surely well-intended but a step or two short of enticing—this is an exemplary big-band session marked by strong ensemble work, admirable solos and engaging compositions and arrangements by the leader, Dan Pugach. Four stars for that.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Tolerance; Bianca; Bella the Bear; Masa; Schleppin��; Travel; Dreams; Discourse This!

Personnel

Dan Pugach

drums

Sam Hoyt

trumpet

David Smith

trumpet

Stuart Mack

trumpet

Dave Adewumi

trumpet

Andrew Gould

saxophone

Patrick Cornelius

saxophone, alto

Jeremy Powell

saxophone

Eitan Gofman

saxophone

Andrew Hadro

woodwinds

Mike Fahie

trombone

Alan Ferber

trombone

Jasim Perales

trombone

Jen Hinkle

trombone

Nicola Zuraitis

vocals

Nitzan Gavrieli

piano

Pete McCann

guitar

Sam Weber

bass

Album information

Title: Bianca | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Outside in Music

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