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The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy

By Jack Bowers
November 15, 2015
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The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy

The 14 Jazz Orchestra, based in south Florida, is comprised of thirteen accomplished sidemen (all alumni of the University of Miami) and arranger / conductor

Dan Bonsanti

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Bonsanti. On its debut recording, Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy, the ensemble cast its net wide to gather in compositions by

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn,

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter,

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson,

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea,

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney,

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield and Florida native

Jaco Pastorius

bass, electric
1951 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaco Pastorius, among others, each one marshaled with rigorous care by Bonsanti.

Saxophonist

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Calle, a longtime Floridian (by way of Venezuela) who may bear the orchestra's best-known name, solos on eight of the album's eleven numbers, either on soprano (Pastorius' prosidic "John and Mary") or tenor sax. While he is assuredly a talented musician, Calle's mercurial and occasionally strident ad-libs are clearly an acquired taste. Having said that, there's no doubt that he approaches every solo with sincerity and passion. The same holds true for The 14 as a whole, as its slightly undersized sections (three trumpets, four saxophones, two trombones and rhythm) play with surprising power and impressive precision.

The sunny curtain-raiser, Strayhorn's U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group), is the only number not arranged by Bonsanti who re-orchestrated

Clare Fischer

piano
1928 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Clare Fischer's exemplary chart. Alto

Ed Maina

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Maina, trombonist

Dante Luciani

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dante Luciani and pianist

Jim Gasior

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Gasior are the able soloists. Gasior and Maina (flute) are heard from again with Calle on Shorter's "Palladium," which precedes "John and Mary" and Henderson's "Black Narcissus," on which Calle is featured with Gasior and drummer

Jack Ciano

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Ciano. Parker's "Donna Lee (In Disguise)" is well-named, as scarcely a trace of the bop classic can be heard in Bonsanti's clever yet generally even-tempered arrangement. Guest drummer

Marko Marcinko

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Marko Marcinko enlivens the rhythm section on that one, as he does on

Don Grolnick

piano
1947 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Grolnick's "Pools" and Scofield's "You're Under Arrest" (solos on "Donna Lee" by Calle, Gasior and Bonsanti on synth bass, on "Pools" by Calle, Gasior, Marcinko and guitarist

Tom Lippincott

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Lippincott).

Percy Mayfield's "Hit the Road Jack" may be Bonsanti's lone misstep, as the sluggish tempo he has chosen undermines its essential buoyancy and drive. Solos are by Luciani and trumpeter

Cisco Dimas

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Cisco Dimas. The hymn "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," which follows, is equally slow-moving, but that is to be expected. Trumpeter

Ray Chicalo

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Chicalo and baritone Peter Brewer are suitably decorous. Calle holds center stage again on "Windows" and McCartney's "With a Little Help from My Friends," after which funk enters the picture on the bravura finale, "You're Under Arrest" (solos by Luciani [muted], Gasior, Calle, Lippincott and Marcinko). Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy is for the most part an admirable debut by The 14, one that enfolds the promise of enterprising musical adventures yet to come.

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Track Listing

U.M.M.G.; Palladium; John and Mary; Black Narcissus; Donna Lee (In Disguise); Pools; Hit the Road Jack; Take My Hand Precious Lord; With a Little Help from My Friends; Windows; You��re Under Arrest.

Personnel

Dan Bonsanti

composer / conductor

Dan Bonsanti: conductor, arranger; Stephen Reid: trumpet; Cisco Dimas: trumpet; Ray Chicalo: trumpet; Ed Maina, Ed Calle, Neal Bonsanti, Peter Brewer: reeds; Dante Luciani: trombone; Major Bailey: trombone; Jim Gasior: piano; Tom Lippincott: guitar; Matt Bonelli: bass; Jack Ciano: drums. Special guests �C Will Lee: bass (9); Mark Egan: bass (10); Marko Marcinko: drums (5, 6, 11).

Album information

Title: Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced

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