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Dmitri Matheny: Cascadia

By Jack Bowers
July 11, 2022
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Cascadia encompasses an hour of amiable, even-tempered jazz from trumpeter

Dmitri Matheny

flugelhorn
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Dmitri Matheny who, like several of his predecessors—

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker,

Chuck Mangione

flugelhorn
1940 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Mangione,

Guido Basso

trumpet
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Guido Basso and his mentor,

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Farmer, among them—focuses exclusively on flugelhorn. Matheny uses his gorgeous tone and remarkable lyricism to paint exquisite portraits in sound throughout a program whose ten engaging numbers enfold half a dozen of his original compositions.

Matheny shares the front line with saxophonist

Charles McNeal

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles McNeal whose solos (on soprano or tenor sax), much like the leader's, are bright and well-reasoned with nary a misspent note or phrase. The rhythm section is sharp and on-point too, with strong accompaniment and dexterous solos by pianist

Bill Anschell

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Anschell (who also wrote the soft-flowing "Humble Origins") reinforcing steadfast groundwork from bassist

Phil Sparks

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Sparks and drummer

Mark Ivester

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Ivester.

Matheny wrote the tasteful opener, "Cascadia," which precedes "

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron's jazz standard, "On a Misty Night," and five more of Matheny's bright and easygoing compositions (including one bossa, "Perfect Peaches," and one ballad, "Dark Eyes"). "Evergreen Girl" is a soulflul jazz-shuffle, "Bourdain" a warm tribute to the late celebrity chef and author, Anthony Bourdain. "Humble Origins" is sandwiched between Jimmy Webb's pop hit, "Wichita Lineman," and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's lustrous ballad, "After the Rain," which closes the session.

Matheny is a master of his chosen horn, and Cascadia, his twelfth album as leader, redeems in expressiveness and beauty what it may lack in fire and brimstone.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Cascadia; On a Misty Night; Evergreen Girl; Dark Eyes; Perfect Peaches; The Lonesome Road; Bourdain; Wichita Lineman; Humble Origins; After the Rain.

Personnel

Dmitri Matheny

flugelhorn

Charles McNeal

saxophone, alto

Bill Anschell

piano

Phil Sparks

bass

Mark Ivester

drums

Album information

Title: Cascadia | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Origin Records

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