Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra: Midnight Stroll

Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra: Midnight Stroll

By Jack Bowers
April 15, 2020
View read count

One can only imagine how difficult it must be, especially in such uncertain times, for any musician to decide that the time has come to assemble a big band and usher it into a recording studio, let alone one whose name and reputation are, more than likely, scarcely known outside his own neighborhood. Thumbing his nose at the odds,

Joshua Jern

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Jern, a Chicago-based trumpeter and educator with impressive talents, has done exactly that, escorting his remarkably well-groomed ensemble on a Midnight Stroll that is as dauntless as it is enheartening.

Besides playing split-lead trumpet with the superb

Roger Ingram

trumpet
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Roger Ingram, Jern wrote and arranged every number on the album, and they are consistently resourceful and charming. The session's impassive title, Midnight Stroll, veers towards deceptive, as it may lead prospective listeners to believe the music is similar to the late-night ear candy once served up by Percy Faith, Mantovani, Jackie Gleason and others. Nothing could be further from the truth. To hear the orchestra at its swaggering best, go directly to Track 4, "Finally Done Doin' It," a nimble flag-waver that swings in the finest big-band tradition to underscore muscular solos by alto saxophonist

Aaron McEvers

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron McEvers, trombonist

Bryant Scott

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Bryant Scott, pianist

Mark Nelson

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Nelson, trumpeter

Doug Scharf

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug Scharf and drummer

Keith Brooks II

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Brooks II. The light-hearted "Mr. Roads," reminiscent of

Ernie Wilkins

arranger
1922 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Wilkins' or

Sammy Nestico

composer / conductor
1924 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Nestico's finest work for

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie, enwraps a muscular solo by tenor saxophonist

Casey Fitzpatrick

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Casey Fitzpatrick and, as a bonus, a couple of choruses from the Windy City's longtime "hidden treasure," trumpeter

Art Davis

bass, acoustic
1934 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Davis, who solos again (with Nelson) on the insouciant, quasi-trad finale, "Swingin' a Yarn." Jern solos only once, with baritone saxophonist

Mark Hiebert

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Hiebert, on the carefully aligned "Starting Point," showing that he is as adept in that area as in any other.

A second baritone saxophonist, Andrew Schlinder, shares blowing space with trombonist

Chris Shuttleworth

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Shuttleworth on the fierce, funky opener (and title song), which bears scant resemblance to a casual Midnight Stroll and leads to the more candid but no less persuasive "Circuit Breaker" (stalwart solos by Scharf, tenor saxophonist

Alex Beltran

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Beltran and drummer

Greg Fundis

drums
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Fundis). A pause for breath is in order, and it arrives in the form of the lovely ballad "With the Best Intentions," featuring Fitzpatrick and pianist

Josh Lava

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Lava. "Finally Done Doin' It" is followed by the lustrous and alluring "Ladybug Bridge" (solos by Lava and McEvers), "Mr. Roads," "Blueberry" (an engaging showcase for pianist Nelson), "Starting Point" and "Swingin' a Yarn."

While this may not be the best possible time to take the wraps off a new big band, Joshua Jern has clearly given his admirable ensemble the best possible chance to succeed. The rest is up to the discretion and good taste of those to whom his enterprise is directed.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Midnight Stroll; Circuit Breaker; With the Best Intentions; Finally Done Doin�� It; Ladybug Bridge; Mr. Roads; Blueberry; Starting Point; Swingin�� a Yarn.

Personnel

Joshua Jern

trumpet

Roger Ingram

trumpet

Doug Scharf

trumpet

Art Davis

bass, acoustic

Aaron McEvers

saxophone, alto

Dave Creighton

saxophone, alto

Casey Fitzpatrick

saxophone, tenor

Alex Beltran

saxophone, tenor

Mark Hiebert

saxophone, baritone

Andrew Schlinder

saxophone, baritone

Bryant Scott

trombone

Chris Shuttleworth

trombone

Andrew Thompson

trombone

Ryan Miller

trombone

Mark Nelson

piano

Josh Lava

piano

Corey Biggerstaff

bass, acoustic

Greg Fundis

drums

Keith Brooks II

drums

Album information

Title: Midnight Stroll | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Spring 2020
< Previous

Reincarnation
Next >

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.