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Christopher Zuar Orchestra: Exuberance

By Angelo Leonardi
December 30, 2024
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? decisamente un periodo d'oro per l'orchestrazione jazz. Ai molti bandleader e arrangiatori emersi nel nuovo millennio, si aggiunge decisamente

Christopher Zuar

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Christopher Zuar, che firma il secondo album confermando le doti espresse in Musings (Sunnyside), il debutto di otto anni fa. Con un diploma al New England Conservatory e un master alla Manhattan School of Music, Zuar aggiunge una spiccata fantasia nell'arricchire il modern mainstream orchestrale di nuove suggestioni.

Questo progetto �� stato concepito tra il 2017 e il 2021 e traccia i percorsi condivisi con la moglie Anne Beal, pittrice di Long Island, che aggiunge suggestive animazioni video durante le esibizioni live dell'orchestra (visibili tramite il codice QR presente nel libretto). A capo di un'organico di diciannove elementi pi�� cinque ospiti, Zuar crea variopinte tessiture, alternando un gusto aristocratico di contrasti timbrici a percorsi ritmici ricchi di groove. Particolarmente coinvolgenti sono i dialoghi tra i solisti e il collettivo, in particolare nel caso della violinista

Sara Caswell

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Caswell, del mandolinista

Joe Brent

mandolin

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Brent, dei sassofonisti

Jason Rigby

saxophone, tenor
b.1974

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

Dave Pietro

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Pietro e

Ben Kono

saxophone, tenor
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Kono, dei trombettista

Matt Holman

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Holman e

Scott Wendholt

trumpet
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Wendholt.

Nel brano "Simple Machine" Zuar aggiunge quella che lui chiama Appalachian String Band comprendente violino, dulcimer a percussione, mandolino, tamburo e banjo, fondendo sonorit�� folk nel dinamico incedere dell'orchestrazione. In particolare, va evidenziato il ruolo della violinista Sara Caswell in questo e altri brani. La riuscita del precedente "Communion," altro momento clou del disco �� in parte dovuta a lei e al suo travolgente assolo che ricorda l'ardore del grande

Jerry Goodman

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Goodman.

Impasti orchestrali maestosi, si stagliano in "Moments in Between" dietro l'intervento di Matt Holman al flicorno mentre la voce di

Emma Frank

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Emma Frank immette freschezza nel propulsivo "Exuberance."

Album della settimana.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

In Winter Blooms; Moments in Between; Communion; Simple Machines; Before Dawn; Certainty; Exuberance.

Personnel

Christopher Zuar

composer / conductor

Dave Pietro

saxophone, alto

Charles Pillow

saxophone

Jason Rigby

saxophone, tenor

Ben Kono

saxophone, tenor

Carl Maraghi

saxophone, baritone

Tony Kadleck

trumpet

Jon Owens

trumpet

Scott Wendholt

trumpet

Matt Holman

trumpet

Matt McDonald

trombone

Mark Patterson

trombone

Alan Ferber

trombone

Max Seigel

trombone

Pete McCann

guitar

Glenn Zaleski

piano

Drew Gress

bass

Mark Ferber

drums

Rogerio Boccato

percussion

Sara Caswell

violin

Additional Instrumentation

Max ZT: hammered dulcimer (track 4); Joe Brent: mandolin (track 4); Keita Ogawa: percussion (track 4); Emma Frank: voice (track 7); Mike Holober: conductor; Dave Pietro: soprano saxophone, piccolo, flute, alto flute; Charles Pillow: flute, alto flute, oboe, clarinet; Jason Rigby: flute, clarinet; Ben Kono; alto flute, clarinet; Carl Maraghi: bass clarinet; Tony Kadleck: flugelhorn; Jon Owens: flugelhorn; Scott Wendholt: flugelhorn; Matt Holman: flugelhorn; Max Siegel: bass trombone; Pete McCann: banjo, mandolin, dobro; Glenn Zaleski: Fender Rhodes.

Album information

Title: Exuberance | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Tonal Conversations

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