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Jon Armstrong Sextet: Reabsorb

By Mark Corroto
December 25, 2020
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Saxophonist

Jon Armstrong

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Armstrong reminds us that life and death are two sides of the same coin. Although seemingly disparate, like two sides of an LP, they cannot be separated. His sextet recording Reabsorb models this contrasting device by presenting two contrasting compositions, one on each side of an LP (also available as a CD and download). The music, inspired by an Erin Armstrong poem, presents both sides, which at first encounter come off as binary elements. Loud and soft. Busy and quiet. With closer inspection, the music melds together as yang to the opposite side's yin.

Armstrong a bandleader, composer, and Director of Jazz Studies at Idaho State University returned to Los Angeles, his former residence, to record Reabsorb with a cast of L.A. based musicians. His sextet includes trumpeter

Dan Rosenboom

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Rosenboom (Burning Ghosts, Bright Eyes,

Vinny Golia

woodwinds
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinny Golia), trombonist,

Ryan Dragon

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Dragon (

John Beasley

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Beasley's MONK'estra), pianist

Joshua White

piano
b.1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua White (

Jason Robinson

saxophone, tenor
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Robinson,

Mark Dresser

bass, acoustic
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Dresser), bassist

Benjamin Shepherd

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Benjamin Shepherd (

Peter Erskine

drums
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Erskine), and drummer

Tina Raymond

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tina Raymond (

Cathlene Pineda

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Cathlene Pineda). His meditation on life, death and universal consciousness, although heady topics, turns out to be agreeable music. Side one, "Hit It As Loudly As Possible" (best case scenario: they'll mention the quiet when one has gone) does just that. Bam, a crash of notes accompanies Armstrong's tenor which blurts a string of notes over a trumpet/trombone line. The music kindles a sort of mashup memory. One where

Bill Laswell

bass
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Laswell might have sat in with Weather Report. That figures, as bassist Shepherd studied with

Alphonso Johnson

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Alphonso Johnson and performed with Peter Erskine. All is not mayhem though. Armstrong's composition incorporates varied arrangements to keep the music on track, even when White's piano is working a jangled path.

The flip side follows the balance of the poem: 'Released/Light moves inside a green leaf/Now I'm absorbed by green/bouncing the loop of light.' "Loop Of Light" enters on Carl Sandberg's quiet fog with breath instead of notes and the subtle body of piano insides, brush work, and hushed horns. Bass notes bubble as the energy rises and the band's reconciliation involves a careful and measured soloing by Ryan Dragon before the music crescendos into resolution. Maybe Jon Armstrong should have dared to title this recording Love Supreme Reabsorbed.

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Track Listing

Hit It As Loudly As Possible; Loop of Light.

Personnel

Jon Armstrong

saxophone

Dan Rosenboom

trumpet

Ryan Dragon

trombone

Joshua White

piano

Benjamin Shepherd

bass

Tina Raymond

drums

Album information

Title: Reabsorb | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Orenda Records

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