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Michael Dease: Relentless

By Dan Bilawsky
July 6, 2014
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While rising star trombonist Michael Dease's previous albums have all been small group affairs, much of his sideman work has marked him as something of a large ensemble specialist. He's put his slide to good use in numerous big bands and jazz orchestras, including those led by

Christian McBride

bass
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian McBride,

Charles Tolliver

trumpet
b.1942

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

Roy Hargrove

trumpet
1969 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Hargrove,

Rufus Reid

bass, acoustic
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Rufus Reid, and

Nicholas Payton

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Payton. Given that information, it should come as no great surprise that Dease decided to make a go of fronting his own big band.

Relentless—the rising star trombonist's sixth album, and his first on the Posi-Tone imprint—finds Dease in charge of a group that's populated with other big band mainstays (trumpeters

Seneca Black

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Seneca Black and

Greg Gisbert

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Gisbert), young jazz heavies (bassist

Linda May Han Oh

bass, acoustic
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Linda May Han Oh, drummer

Ulysses Owens, Jr.

drums
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ulysses Owens, Jr., saxophonist

Sharel Cassity

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Sharel Cassity), and a few welcome guests (trombonist

Wycliffe Gordon

trombone
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Wycliffe Gordon and guitarist

Andrew Swift

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Swift). The program reads like a history of Dease's commissions and musical upbringing. He reclaims arrangements originally penned for Hargrove's group (

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's "Is That So"), the WDR Big Band (

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander's "Little Lucas"), and the Webster Groves High School Big Band ("Webster Grooves"); he expands music previously recorded in a small group setting ("Relentless") and looks back on his early attempts at writing for big band ("The Takeover"); and he reshapes classics that he's learned to love over the years ("Two Bass Hit," I'm Glad There Is You," and "Autumn Leaves").

Dease's charts kick, swing, leave lots of room for soloists, and occasionally put each section to the test with fiery, finger-busting passages. It's not all high energy, adrenaline-fueled music, but the most memorable performances—"The Takeover," "Roppongi," and "Two Bass Hit"—tend to get the pulse racing in some way.

Groups like this tend to be studio-made bands, not working units, so it'll be interesting to see if Dease can get this group on the bandstand and develop what he's started. It's a unit with plenty of muscle, driven by a leader with boundless talent, so here's to hoping that Dease can keep it afloat and help it evolve.

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Track Listing

Is That So; Force; Relentless; I'm Glad There Is You; The Takeover; Little Lucas; Roppongi; Two Bass Hit; Webster Grooves; Autumn Leaves.

Personnel

Michael Dease

trombone

Michael Dease: trombone, musical director; Todd Bashore: alto saxophone, flute; Tim Green: alto saxophone, flute; Diego Rivera: tenor saxophone; Sharel Cassity: tenor saxophone; Tony Lustig: baritone saxophone; Adam Rongo: tenor saxophone (7); Seneca Black: trumpet; Greg Gisbert: trumpet; Alphonso Horne: trumpet; Etienne Charles: trumpet; Alex Norris: trumpet; Benny Benack III: trumpet; Anthony Stanco: trumpet; Tom "Bones" Malone: trombone; Jerrick Matthews: trombone; Coleman Hughes: trombone; Jeff Nelson: bass trombone; Ron Wilkins: trombone; Peter Nelson: trombone (7, 10); Wycliffe Gordon: trombone (10), vocals (8), slide trumpet (8); Miki Hayama: piano; Linda Oh: bass; Ulysses Owens Jr.: drums; Andrew Swift: guitar (7); Gwendolyn Burgett: percussion.

Album information

Title: Relentless | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

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