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Mariel Austin: Runner in the Rain

By Jack Bowers
January 22, 2019
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Young trombonist / vocalist

Mariel Austin

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Mariel Austin, who quadruples as composer / arranger on her debut album, Runner in the Rain, writes music that is hard to pigeonhole, at least as it relates to jazz. Some of her compositions are thematic, some experimental, some have classical overtones, some even swing on occasion, and most are technically demanding. As for improvisation, it plays a subordinate role more often than not, with some digressions to be noted later.

Austin, whose early influences included

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

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

George Russell

composer / conductor
1923 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">George Russell, earned a master's degree in jazz composition in 2015 at the New England Conservatory of Music, and has stocked her big band with friends and colleagues from the NEC and Boston's esteemed Berklee College of Music. Mastering Austin's elaborate and at times turgid charts is no easy task, even for them, but they acquit themselves well on each of the five selections on what is labeled an EP (in other words, the playing time is roughly forty minutes). Austin composed every number save

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's seductive "Night Dreamer" and arranged them all.

Speaking of "Night Dreamer," that is one instance wherein solos are conspicuous, with tenor saxophonist

Noah Preminger

saxophone, tenor
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Noah Preminger and (to a lesser extent) vibraphonist

Andria Nicodemou

" data-original-title="" title="">Andria Nicodemou and pianist

James Fernando

piano
b.1995

" data-original-title="" title="">James Fernando raising a stout framework within Austin's lustrous arrangement. Another is the ballad "One-Way Journey Home," on which Austin carries the melody and solos capably on trombone, as does

Vaughn Stoffey

" data-original-title="" title="">Vaughn Stoffey on guitar. That leads to "Runner in the Rain," an earnest albeit melancholy theme on which Austin fares rather less well as a vocalist. Granted, she is not well-recorded; even so, the voice is more strident than pleasing, the lyric cryptic at best, subverting whatever homage Austin had in mind (the song was written first as an experiment in electronic music, then rearranged for a large acoustic ensemble in honor of a friend who passed away).

The pretentiously named opener, "A Rough, Unsorted Compiling of Ways Not to Exist," is thematic, with each "section" representing a different state of mind, from frustration and uncertainty to brooding, liberating anger, reflection and movement forward. The introductory passage, punctuated by bass, drums and trumpet, leads to a more introspective theme (brooding?) before the band enters to assert its "anger." Drums and brass then intermingle for a conclusive outburst of frustration and anxiety. "Mirror Shift," a rhythmic, brass-driven mosaic written for and previously performed by the New York Youth Symphony, completes the program.

On the plus side, there's no doubt that Austin is a talented musician who knows how to write for a big band. On the other hand, the music she produces (at least in this case) may ensnare the mind but is unlikely in most circumstances to quicken the heart. Further experience will more than likely narrow the gap.

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Track Listing

A Rough, Unsorted Compiling of Ways Not to Exist; Night Dreamer; Mirrorshift; One-way Journey Home; Runner in the Rain.

Personnel

Mariel Austin

trombone

Mariel Austin: trombone, compositions, vocals (5); Noah Preminger: tenor saxophone (2); Nigel Yancey: alto saxophone, flute; Richard Garcia: alto saxophone, clarinet; Gustavo D��Amico: tenor saxophone, flute; Travis Bliss: tenor saxophone; Austin Yancey: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Danny Fratina: trumpet; Kai Sandoval: trumpet; David Adewumi: trumpet; Jon Weidley: trumpet; Jordan Skomal: trumpet; Dorsey Minns: trombone; Grant Randall: trombone; Yoshie Nakayama: trombone; Joe Ricard: bass trombone; Andria Nicodemou: vibraphone (2); Vaughn Stoffey: guitar; James Fernando: piano (2); Chris McCarthy: piano; Neil Patton: bass; Dor Herskovits: drums; Jakub Trasak: violin (5); Rafael Natan: violin (5); Marnen Laibow- Koser: violin (5); Ludovica Burtone: violin (5); Georgina McKay Lodge: viola (5); Sofia Basile: viola (5); Valerie Thompson: cello (5); Jason Coleman: cello (5).

Album information

Title: Runner in the Rain | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self Produced

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