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Michael Jefry Stevens: Brass Tactics
Michael Jefry Stevens
pianob.1951
Stevens is a thinking man's player mostly known for his work in the Fonda/Stevens group (see Folk Five) and Conference Call, (with
Gebhard Ullmann
saxophoneb.1957
The instrumentation on Brass Tactics stems from Stevens' fascination with brass instruments that goes back to his early days playing the trombone in the grade school band. The group he has put together includes trombonist
Steve Swell
tromboneb.1954
Gebhard Ullmann
saxophoneb.1957
Dave Taylor
trombone, bass
Dave Ballou
trumpet
Steve Olson
drumsb.1956
Ed Sarath
flugelhornThe instrumentation is, of course, interesting and Stevens finds many ways to not only mix the piano and horns, but to voice the horns themselves. Aside from four completely improvised tracks ("Ten Degrees Celsius," "Twenty Degrees Farenheit," "Fifty Degree Farenheit," and "Forty Degrees Celsius"), the remaining eight tracks are compositions which are intricate enough that Stevens enlisted " data-original-title="" title="">Amy Kohn to conduct, which stretches the concept of "lead sheet" to the limit. While there is improvisation on all of these tracks, the extent of it and how obvious it is varies, keeping us guessing at times as to when it is happening.
The recording opens with "12 Chatham Road," a composition from twenty years ago and which appeared on Haiku (Leo Records, 1995), a duo recording with violinist
Mark Feldman
violin"For Alban Berg," a beautiful piece, which sounds mostly composed, opens with just horns playing a kind of chorale. This leads to piano taking up the line, with the horns gradually surrounding it from above and below, moving finally to a recap of the horn chorale. There is somewhat similar construction in "Ping Pong," as an all horn opening moves to an eerie, low piano theme with horn accompaniment. However the middle third sounds more like a conversation, even an argument, rather than theme and accompaniment before returning to the recap. "To The Glory" reaches for the ineffable in another horn chorale, after which the piano adds short commentary to the euphonious horns.
Surrounding the above tracks are two of the improvisations. The first, "Twenty Degrees Farenheit" features an ominous, rumbling piano figure with horn accompaniment and commentary, until the piano takes over, pushing out the other voices. "Fifty Degrees Farenheit" features the horns and piano on a more equal basis, playing off each other's ideas, as the texture and density varies over time.
The next, and longest, track is another free improvisation, "Forty Degrees Celsius," which definitively shows how sensitive musicians with quick reflexes can produce music which ends up having structure and development, starting from nothing; the track is fascinating and spellbinding as it progresses.
Stevens presents, with Brass Tactics, music on which to really chew and reflect upon. It is at once both delicately floating and tautly intense, making for highly rewarding listening. ">
Track Listing
12 Chatham Road; Temperature Rising; Ten Degrees Celsius; Variables; Twenty Degrees Farenheit; For Alban Berg; Ping Pong; To The Glory; Fifty Degrees Farenheit; Forty Degrees Celsius; Variables Reprise; Temperature Rising Reprise.
Personnel
Michael Jefry Stevens
pianoSteve Swell: trombone; Dave Taylor: trombone; Dave Ballou: trumpet; Ed Sarath: trumpet; Michael J. Stevens: piano; Amy Kohn: conductor.
Album information
Title: Brass Tactics | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Konnex Records
Tags
Michael Jefry Stevens
CD/LP/Track Review
Budd Kopman
Konnex Records
Gebhard Ullmann
Steve Swell
Dave Taylor
Dave Ballou
Steve Olson
Ed Sarath
Amy Kohn
Mark Feldman
Brass Tactics
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