Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » J.C. Sanford Orchestra: JC Sanford Orchestra: Views from...

J.C. Sanford Orchestra: JC Sanford Orchestra: Views from the Inside

By Dan Bilawsky
June 5, 2014
View read count

J.C. Sanford Orchestra: JC Sanford Orchestra: Views from the Inside

Views From The Inside is a study in contrasts and opposing forces. It's a work of compression and expansion, sonic saturation and sparsity, and consonance and dissonance. It's music that's alternately grandiloquent and direct, pointing to a place where high art and simple emotional expression aren't at odds with one another. In short, it's everything that's glorious and right about the state of the large ensemble in jazz.

JC Sanford, the composer-conductor-trombonist at the helm of this operation, is both a keen student of large ensemble history in jazz and an artist looking to extend the possibilities within this particular area. He's played a pivotal role in the large ensemble renaissance taking place in New York, serving the music in three different ways: He acts as scene-maker, catalyst, and champion of the large ensemble, curating the "Size Matters" series at Brooklyn's Tea Lounge; he shapes and sculpts the sounds coming from some of the most cutting-edge large ensembles operating today, conducting

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck's Large Ensemble, the

Joel Harrison

guitar, electric
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Harrison 19, the

Alan Ferber

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Ferber Nonet With String, and other groups; and he furthers the format through his own work, leading this boundary-pushing orchestra. Thus far, he's received more ink for the conducting and curating than anything else, but that could all change thanks to this bold release.

It could be said that every piece on this album has its own personality, but that would be looking at this in too-simple fashion. Every piece of every piece on this album has its own sonic identity and constructional aesthetic, but that's not to say that Sanford isn't a fan of certain ideas and devices. Anchoring ostinatos, ever-growing and rising sonic stacks, muddying and clarifying of the harmonic waters, a balance between structural specificity and openness, and shifting focus between the greater whole and its composite parts are all tools that Sanford relies on. "An Attempt At Serenity," which opens the album, touches on a few of these points without wait. Layered Buddhist recitations immediately meet up with tight-voiced dissonance, but the seas part for trumpeter

Matt Holman

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Holman. "Your Word Alone," which relies on strange connections and juxtapositions, comes next. It presents as a march-of-sorts, but brief, full-on assaults, hints of tango, and a whole lot more sneak into the picture.

The pieces on the album can be divided into three distinct categories: Ambitious long-form works, a series of vignettes tied to Brooklyn, and brief t��te-��-t��tes that match trumpeter

Taylor Haskins

trumpet
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Taylor Haskins with drummer-percussionist

Satoshi Takeishi

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Satoshi Takeishi. The first category includes a relatively serene, Sanford-focused waltz ("Robins In Snow"), the classically-infused, wide-ranging title track, and a trippy journey through the world of serialism ("Sky. Good."). The first two Haskins-Takeishi numbers are transitional blips on the radar, but "Systems Two"—the only one of the duo encounters that also falls into the "Brooklyn Vignettes" category—shows what can be done when others are allowed in on these private conversations.

The "Brooklyn Vignettes," while easy to lump together because of their classification as such, have little in common with one another. One might feature

Jacob Garchik

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Garchik's searching accordion ("Brownie Land (Brooklyn Vignette #1)"); another might use a vibraphone riff in five as a constant, toying with all that moves above, below and around it ("Sunset Park, Sunset Park (Brooklyn Vignette #2)"); and yet another might be a zany-and-woozy, bridge-spanning journey ("Verrazano Bikeride (Brooklyn Vignette #3)"). Sanford creates multi-dimensional and mind-altering music that speaks to the creative spark that exists within his soul. This is challenging and rewarding music that's inspired and inspiring.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

An Attempt at Serenity; Your World Alone; 2nd and 7th (Brooklyn Vignette #5); Brownieland (Brooklyn Vignette #1); Pre-Systems; Robins in Snow; Views from the Inside; Inter-Systems; Sunset Park, Sunset Park (Brooklyn Vignette #2); Sky. Good.; Systems Two (Brooklyn Vignette #6); Verrazano Bikeride (Brooklyn Vignette #3).

Personnel

JC Sanford

trombone

J.C. Sanford: composer, arranger, trombone; Taylor Haskins: trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonizer; Matt Holman: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dan Willis: oboe, piccolo, flute, soprano sax; Ben Kono: English horn, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, alto sax; Chris Bacas: clarinet, soprano, tenor sax; Kenny Berger: contra-alto clarinet, bassoon, alto flute; Mark Patterson: trombone; Jeff Nelson: tuba, bass trombone; Chris Komer: French horn; Jacob Garchik: accordion; Tom Beckham: vibraphone; Meg Okura: violin, electronics; Will Martina: cello, electronics; Aidan O��Donnell: bass; Satoshi Takeishi: percussion; Asuka Kakitani: conductor (6, 12).

Album information

Title: JC Sanford Orchestra: Views from the Inside | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Subtext
< Previous

Travel Notes
Next >

JC Sanford Concerts

Sep 14 Sun

Jc Sanford, Kevin Clements, Jay Epstein

Imminent Brewing
Northfield, MN

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.