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Sam Sadigursky: Follow The Stick

By Budd Kopman
May 18, 2016
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After spending nearly ten years with the four Words Project albums (see here, here and here for three of them), reedman and multi-instrumentalist

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Sadigursky has decided to concentrate on clarinet, returning to purely instrumental music with Follow The Stick.

Starting initially with a trio comprised of pianist

Bobby Avey

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Avey (who work with

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman's latest group is stellar; see Samsara , and The Puzzle) and drummer

Jordan Perlson

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jordan Perlson, the group was expanded to include vibraphonist

Chris Dingman

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Dingman. In today's times, the clarinet ("the stick") gets no respect as a jazz instrument, whereas back in the Swing Era, three of the most popular Big Bands, that of

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Goodman,

Artie Shaw

clarinet
1910 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Artie Shaw and

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman were led by stellar clarinet players. The first two also led smaller groups which included vibes, so adding vibes was something in Sadigursky's ears already. Trumpeter

Jason Palmer

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Palmer (heard most recently on

Noah Preminger

saxophone, tenor
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Noah Preminger's live album, The Pivot).

The clarinet is a notoriously difficult instrument to master throughout its range. The "stick" in the band and album name refers not only to the clarinet, but also to a conductor's baton, and so the title/name has a sense of "follow the leader" about it, but this is more than a little tongue-in-cheek.

The pieces are mostly originals, using a mix of newly composed pieces and older pieces which Sadigursky brought to like, but there is also an extremely interesting arrangement of the

Jerry Gray

b.1915

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Gray/Glenn Miller gigantic hit, "String Of Pearls." The stylistic range, as well as the emotional range, is quite wide and, with the tracks taken as as a set, provide a very satisfying listening experience.

The overall impression is of a very tight band whose members are given much freedom within the structure of each piece. Avery feels like the core of the group, supporting both it and the leader. The bass is not missed one bit as Avery's strong left hand fills the bottom. Dingman is excellent and supplements Avery without colliding with him. Palmer adds a second lead voice to four tracks with his wonderfully soft, but full trumpet sound.

Upbeat tunes ("Fast Money," the odd "String Of Pearls" and especially "Do The Dance") dominate the first half of the record, with "Austerity Measures" and "Looks Can Be Deceiving" providing a counterbalance by slowing things down and intensifying the emotional content. The second half contains "Deadly Sins" and "Math Music" which are both new compositions which explore compositional techniques that create a more heady feeling. However "Heart," the longest track is achingly beautiful and ethereal, floating on the sounds of Avery and Dingman, with Sadigursky laying down the very pretty melody in the lower register to begin.

With excellent compositions and fine playing by the band, Follow The Stick is extremely enjoyable again and again.

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Track Listing

Fast Money; String of Pearls; 3+2; Mule; Do The Dance; Austerity Measures; Looks Can Be Deceiving; Reach; Life's Flowering; Deadly Sins; Touch��; Heart; Math Music.

Personnel

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet

Sam Sadigursky: clarinet, bass clarinet; Chris Dingman: vibraphone, marimba; Bobby Avey: piano; Jordan Perlson: drums, percussion; Jason Palmer: trumpet (2, 5, 9, 13); Ljova: viola (7).

Album information

Title: Follow The Stick | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records

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