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Michael Treni Big Band: Pop-Culture Blues

By Jack Bowers
July 14, 2013
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Michael Treni Big Band: Pop-Culture Blues

The blues, as it turns out, has many shades; an enduring art form that has been an integral part of the language of jazz since its beginning (if not before). Some aspects of the blues are readily perceived, others not so much. "The common thread," Michael Treni writes in his astute liner notes to Pop-Culture Blues, the fifth album as leader of his own big band, "is that the blues is most frequently found as a 12-bar form made up of Dominant 7th chords with the IV chord used in the 5th measure." If you follow that, you'll most likely understand and appreciate Treni's purpose in writing a ten-part blues-based suite that "presents the development of the blues within the jazz idiom by [using] the changing compositional styles prevalent from the late 1950s to today." If you don't, all you need know is that the music presented here, whatever its origin or label, is sublime.

Treni launches his colorful odyssey with "One for Duke," inspired, of course, by the one and only

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington, and continues onward with assorted themes epitomizing the spirit of

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie,

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus,

Lee Morgan

trumpet
1938 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Morgan and other Blue Note artists of the '60s,

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan and the "cool school,"

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane /

Oliver Nelson

saxophone
1932 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Nelson,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock /

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter, the Brecker brothers and

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner. The last movement, "Pop-Culture Blues," Treni writes, "incorporates a variety of stylistic elements that is both representative of contemporary practice yet also pays tribute to the past." In his impressive commentary, Treni provides a cogent synopsis of each tune and its relation to the musicians on whose style it is based.

This is the blues in all its multifaceted glory, marvelously performed by twenty-one seasoned musicians to whom the genre seems second nature. What is missing (but by no means missed) are any vocal representations of the blues. There are no twanging guitars or throaty homilies to "muddy the waters" (pun intended), only the invigorating sounds of a world-class big band that knows its way around the blues. Even though this is a suite, its prismatic design ensures that each component can stand securely on its own. And if you're thinking the blues doesn't swing, the closing "Pop-Culture Blues" should drive that notion right out of your head.

Besides writing and arranging the suite, trombonist Treni solos on two numbers ("Minor Blues," "Bluesy Bossa") and earmarks ample space for others including trumpeters Chris Persad,

Vinnie Cutro

trumpet
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinnie Cutro and

Freddie Hendrix

trumpet
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hendrix; tenor / soprano

Jerry Bergonzi

saxophone, tenor
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Bergonzi, alto Sal Spicola, tenors

Frank Elmo

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Elmo and Ken Hitchcock, flutists Hitchcock and

Craig Yaremko

saxophone
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Yaremko, trombonist

Bob Ferrel

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Ferrel (who plays something called a Buccin trombone on "Mr. Funky Blues"), pianists

Charles Blenzig

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Blenzig and

Jim Ridl

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Ridl, bassist Takashi Otsuka and drummer

Ron Vincent

drums
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Vincent. Even if the blues isn't your bag, give "Pop-Culture Blues" a listen. Chances are you'll be surprised and delighted by its diversity.

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Track Listing

One for Duke; BQE Blues; Minor Blues; Bluesy Boss; More Than 12 Blues; Summer Blues; Blues in Triplicate; Mr. Funky Blues; Smokin�� Blues; Pop-Culture Blues.

Personnel

Michael Treni

Michael Treni: leader, composer, arranger, trombone; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet,flugelhorn; Bill Ash: trumpet, flugelhorn; Vinnie Cutro: trumpet; Nathan Ecklund: trumpet; Chris Persad: trumpet (1-5, 8-10); Sal Spicola: alto sax, flute; Craig Yaremko: alto sax, flute; Jerry Bergonzi: tenor, soprano sax (1, 6, 7, 9); Frank Elmo: tenor sax, alto flute, clarinet; Ken Hitchcock: tenor sax, alto flute, clarinet; Roy Nicolosi: baritone sax, bass clarinet, clarinet; Bob Ferrel: trombone, buccin trombone; Joe Petrizzo: trombone; Philip Jones: bass trombone, tuba; Jim Ridl: piano (1, 6, 7, 9); Charles Blenzig: piano (2-5, 8, 10); Joe LaBelle: guitar (2, 4, 8); Takashi Otsuka:bass; Ron Vincent: drums; Rick Dekovessey: percussion (4, 8).

Album information

Title: Pop-Culture Blues | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Bell Productions

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