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Fernando Huergo: Relentless

By Jack Bowers
September 26, 2024
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Argentine-born bassist and composer

Fernando Huergo

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Fernando Huergo's heavy-duty Massachusetts-based big band delivers the goods on Relentless, a taut and vibrant review of oppression, discrimination, environmental challenges and other social issues, interwoven with Huergo's lively tribute to the saxophonist

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman and a charismatic and thought-provoking survey ("La Vida Sigue") on life after the Covid-19 pandemic, with all compositions and arrangements by the leader.

This is well-designed, no-holds-barred big-band jazz, delivered with verve and enthusiasm by eighteen well-prepared musicians whose unrelenting analysis of every chart mirrors and enhances Huergo's lyric purpose. The album's title song is a textbook example, with the band in high gear and roaring heartily behind exuberant solos by pianist

Santiago Bosch

piano
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Santiago Bosch, alto saxophonist

Rick Stone

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Rick Stone and trumpeter

Billy Buss

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Buss. Others include "Blues Sureno" and the hard-driving finale, "Groove Odds" (solos on "Blues" by flutist

Yulia Musayelyan

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Yulia Musayelyan, trumpeter

Greg Hopkins

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Hopkins and drummer

Gen Yoshimura

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Gen Yoshimura, on "Odds" by Stone, Yoshimura and tenor

Rick DiMuzio

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Rick DiMuzio).

Even when the tempo slackens, as on "Vidalita" (masterful flute work by Musayelyan) or "The Illusion of Hope" (a sublime showcase for Allan Chase's expressive alto), there is scant loss of impetus or passion; Yoshimura, Bosch, Huergo and percussionist

Ernesto Diaz

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernesto Diaz make sure of that. The fast-paced "Ornette" swings with gusto, thanks to Huergo's luminous chart, his impressive solo on electric bass, splendid time-keeping by Yoshimura and pleasing solos by Chase, trombonist

Chris Gagne

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Gagne and baritone

Daniel Ian Smith

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Ian Smith. Huergo's other charts—every one a winner—are "Panorama," "Deluge" and "Modernities." The first is another unbridled swinger, bolstered by Hopkins, Bosch, Diaz, bass trombonist Andy Garcia, tenor

Joel Springer

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Springer and the ensemble. While "Deluge" moves more slowly, the tension level remains high, with more tight-knit ensemble work and engaging solos by DiMuzio, Bosch, Yoshimura, Diaz, trombonist

Randy Pingrey

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Pingrey and trumpeter

Jeff Claassen

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Claassen. Pingrey and trumpeter

Dan Rosenthal

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Rosenthal share the solo spotlight on "Modernities," yet another of Huergo's always-congenial themes.

There are few wasted moments on Relentless, which is a marvelous tour de force for the band, its eloquent soloists and especially Huergo's creative and finely tuned compositions and arrangements. File this one under "pleasant surprises."

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Consciousness of Reality; Ornette; Vidalita; Panorama; La Vida Sigue; Relentless; Deluge; Modernities; Blues Sureno; The Illusion of Hope; Groove Odds.

Personnel

Fernando Huergo

bass, electric

Jeff Claassen

trumpet

Billy Buss

trumpet

Dan Rosenthal

trumpet

Greg Hopkins

trumpet

Rick Stone

saxophone, alto

Allan Chase

saxophone, alto

Rick DiMuzio

saxophone, tenor

Joel Springer

saxophone, tenor

Daniel Ian Smith

saxophone

Santiago Bosch

piano

Gen Yoshimura

drums

Ernesto Diaz

percussion

Album information

Title: Relentless | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Whaling City Sound

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