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Chet Doxas: Big Sky

By John Kelman
October 13, 2010
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As much as a recent Ottawa, Canada performance was an intimate opportunity for local fans to see

John Abercrombie

guitar
1944 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">John Abercrombie, it was equally noteworthy for the two brothers who brought the veteran guitarist and bassist

" data-original-title="" title="">John Menegon, both from Upstate New York, for a short tour of Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa and Montreal. Saxophonist Chet Doxas and drummer Jim Doxas are no strangers to Ottawa—especially Jim, a regular at local bassist

John Geggie

bass
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">John Geggie's annual Geggie Concert Series. Chet—who has recorded and/or toured with artists including

Dave Douglas

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Douglas,

Jason Moran

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Moran,

David Binney

saxophone, alto
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">David Binney and

Oliver Jones

piano
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Jones—the latter, Jim's regular gig—released his debut as a leader, Sidewalk Etiquette (Justin Time), in 2006; four years later, Big Sky expands on its predecessor's many strengths, bringing back the same quartet, with the exception of guitarist Ben Charest, who replaces pianist

John Roney

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Roney.

Switching to a guitar-based group alters the overall complexion of a group which also features Jim, and longtime friend/musical cohort, bassist Zack Lober. But beyond the obvious, it creates a sense of air that allows the dark, brooding, title track—paradoxically introspective, given its name—to breathe in a different way than it had it featured a piano's denser voicings. Charest—best known, perhaps, for his Grammy- and Academy-nominated soundtrack to The Triplets of Belleville (2003), on which Chet can also be heard—joins a warm, ambiguous harmonic approach with the kind of contemporary melodism heard from guitarists like

Kurt Rosenwinkel

guitar
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Rosenwinkel, favoring a rich, thick tone that fills up a lot of space without ever weighing it down.

As before, Chet is the primary writer, with the exception of Lober's angularly swinging "Blue 23," and an a capella saxophone reading of clarinetist

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Goodman's well-known theme song, "Goodbye," which—understated though it may be—demonstrates unfailing respect for composer/arranger

Gordon Jenkins

" data-original-title="" title="">Gordon Jenkins' memorable melody while, at the same time, pushing it into the 21st Century with a broader purview. The rest of Big Sky's eight tunes are Chet's, and demonstrate the same blend of head and heart as Sidewalk Etiquette. As much informed by 20th Century classical composers like

Charles Ives

composer / conductor
1874 - 1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Ives and Gustav Mahler as he is jazz underdogs like

Jimmy Giuffre

clarinet
1921 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Giuffre, Doxas combines knotty structures with plenty of room to move, but Big Sky shifts towards greater lyricism, despite quirky arrangements like the closing "Blumen," with its seemingly endless series of stops and starts.

Continuing to grow as a player, Chet's tone is refreshingly not from the

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter school—no disrespect intended, but the American saxophonist's influence has simply become far too pervasive. Jim continues to build on his remarkable abilities to twist and turn a pulse without ever losing it, quickly respond to the subtlest motif, and play with an often thrilling blend of restraint and abandon. A significant step forward—not just for leader Chet Doxas, but for everyone in the group—Big Sky shines a light on a fine group of players from a city that has one of the most diverse and, on the strength of albums like this, underappreciated scenes in North America, outside of New York.

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Track Listing

For Jim; Big Sky; L'Acadie; Sideshow; Goodbye; The Walk Will Do You Good; Blue 23; Blumen.

Personnel

Chet Doxas

saxophone

Chet Doxas: tenor saxophone; Ben Charest: guitar; Zack Lober: bass; Jim Doxas: drums.

Album information

Title: Big Sky | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Justin Time Records

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