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Jonathan Saraga Quintet: First Vision

By Dan McClenaghan
December 25, 2012
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Trumpeter Jonathan Saraga opens his debut, First Vision with the eleven-and-a-half-minute original, "Guidance," a probing rumination that flares up during his solo. The tune as a whole is a slow burn, but it bursts into high flames as it comes to its conclusion.

The leader has assembled a fine quintet of standard configuration—two horns, a chording instrument (here, guitar), bass and drums. The music, all Saraga-penned, has an uncommon freshness coming from a 24 year-old artist who is well on his way to forming his own compositional voice. "Guidance" opens with a ponderous bass line from

Jeff Dingler

bass
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Dingler, soon joined by the front line, Saraga and alto saxophonist Colin Gordon. The trumpeter's solo has a succinctness of phrasing, a breathy tone in front guitarist Peter Parks dark chords as drummer Gusten Rudolph seems to push the sound into a higher gear with a gathering momentum, one that downshifts into a coasting mode as Gordon takes his turn out front with a well-constructed solo.

"Rebellion" blows to life with a 1960s Blue Note Records sound, until Park moves into resonant and uncharted territory with a beautifully measured solo in front of some eloquent drum work, giving way to the bright and articulate Saraga.

There are lots of chops all around, but it's the well -synchronized ensemble work that stands out. "Recurring Dreams" opens in a drifting mode, somewhat in the manner of trumpeter

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis Nefertiti (Columbia, 1968), but then the group cranks things up, giving the horns some space to wail.

Jonathan Saraga, who won the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition, and was one of five finalists in the 2009 Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition, has shown great promise as a young jazz artist. With First Vision, his excellent recording debut, that promise begins its realization, as a player, composer and bandleader.

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Track Listing

Track 1: "Guidance" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (11:34) / Track 2: "Rebellion" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (5:43) / Track 3: "Recurring Dream" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (4:40) / Track 4: "Wandering Child" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (8:04) / Track 5: "Rampant Teddy Bear" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (7:14) / Track 6: "The Reiki Practitioner" - composition by Jonathan Saraga (6:52)

Personnel

Jonathan Saraga

trumpet

Colin Gordon

saxophone

Peter Park

guitar

Jeff Dingler

bass

Gusten Rudolph

drums

Album information

Title: First Vision | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Blue Truffle Music

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