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Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra: Pain & Beauty

By Edward Blanco
July 23, 2023
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Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra: Pain & Beauty

A religious man at heart, composer/band leader and producer Brian Eisenberg leads an 18-piece big band (The Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra) on a personal musical exploration on the meaning of love through the perspective of what may be beautiful, and what may seem hurtful on the very introspective and challenging Pain & Beauty. The album, as he writes, "is dedicated to that ideal of genuine love...painful yet, beautiful love." Eisenberg sets the musical bar quite high on such lofty and idealistic inspiration and as such, the expectation of the music from this contemporary large ensemble is also high.

Recorded in Hollywood, California, the band leader took advantage of the talent-rich environment of LA and beyond to assemble a first-rate orchestra featuring some of the finest musicians in the world. Among the many players on this album are such luminaries as

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Sheppard,

Brandon Fields

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Fields,

Wayne Bergeron

trumpet

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

Scott Wendholt

trumpet
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Wendholt, Alex Iles,

Peter Erskine

drums
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Erskine,

Christian Jacob

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian Jacob and

Trey Henry

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Trey Henry just to name a few.

Except for the three-part suite, "The Cost of War," featuring Special guest artist Meagan Martin on Mezzo-Sprano vocals and the standard "Pure Imagination," with Christian Jacob on solo piano and the other guest artist

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer on bass clarinet, all songs on this project were composed and arranged by producer Eisenberg. Many of the tracks here are lengthy, beginning with the opener "Battle Cry," a powerful and provocative tune highlighting performances from Fields, Iles, Henry and Wendholt.

The Title track "Pain & Beauty" is a simmering and thought-provoking statement featuring rich solos from guitarist

Andrew Synowiec

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Synowiec and horn man Wendholt on both trumpet and flugelhorn with spritely backup by the pianist and drummer. Staying true to the pain/beauty theme of the album, "Five Wounds" (of Jesus, as Eisenberg writes) turns out to be an almost eleven-minute gorgeous ballad with trumpeter Wendholt once again featured throughout aided by spurts from altoist Fields on one of the best tracks of the set.

In what seems to be a departure from the theme here, "Scram Jam" takes a different direction featuring a host of players including

Brad Dutz

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Dutz on the vibes, in an atypical hard-bop and energetic swinging number. Tenor saxophonist Sheppard and trumpeter

Ron King

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron King on flugelhorn take center stage on the marvelous "A Song for Rick," one of the other burners of the album.

Certainly not your typical straight-ahead contemporary jazz sound, this album is far more challenging and soul-searching, it is a musical journey into the mind and heart hoping to evoke feelings of love expressed in unique harmonies and melodies. Composer and band leader Brian Eisenberg produces one of his best musical statements yet on Pain & Beauty and the all-star lineup of an ensemble is one reason why.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Battle Cry; Pain & Beauty; Five Wounds; Scram Jam; A Song for Rick; Dried Corsages; Helping Someone to Die; My Dead Are Not Silent; Pure Imagination.

Personnel

Brandon Fields

saxophone

Sal Lozano

saxophone

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor

Adam Schroeder

saxophone, baritone

Wayne Bergeron

trumpet

Ron King

trumpet

Scott Wendholt

trumpet

Alex Iles

trombone

Harrison Kirk

trombone

Erik Hughes

trombone

Craig Gosnell

trombone

Andrew Sinowiec

guitar

Christian Jacob

piano

Trey Henry

bass

Peter Erskine

drums

Brad Dutz

percussion

Meagan Martin

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Brandon Fields: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Sal Lozano: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet; Bob Sheppard: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet; Brian Scanlon: tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Adam Schroeder: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Wayne Bergeron: trumpet, flugelhorn; Sean Billings: trumpet, flugelhorn; Ron King: trumpet, flugelhorn; Scott Wendholt: trumpet, flugelhorn; Alex Iles: trombone; Harrison Kirk: trombone; Brad Dutz: vibes; Guest Bob Mintzer: bass clarinet.

Album information

Title: Pain & Beauty | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Pulished

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