Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Zach Rich: Solidarity

Zach Rich: Solidarity

By Jack Bowers
April 21, 2024
View read count

Solidarity consists for the most part of warm, gentle chamber jazz ably performed by Denver-based trombonist

Zach Rich

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Zach Rich, his quintet, a four-piece string section and half a dozen invited guests. Besides playing elegant trombone, Rich, who teaches at Denver's Lamont School of Music, wrote and arranged all of the album's eight handsome songs.

The strings are present on the first six numbers; the seventh, "What Is America Rated?," features Julian Carey's spoken word, while the last, "The Heavyweight," proves that Rich can also write swinging straight-ahead jazz for the quintet (plus guest tenor

Austin Cebulske

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Austin Cebulske). The opening "Seraph" also cooks in its own way, sprinting beezily along behind the strings and sharp solos by Rich, Cebulske and guitarist Denin Slage-Koch.

The pace slackens on "Broken Mirrors" and pretty much stays there through "Solidarity," "Reprise," "June" and "Anthem"—which does not mean the themes are less than interesting, only quieter. There is much to admire on each one, not the least of which are admirable solos by Rich, Slage-Koch, pianist

Gavin Allen-Dunn

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">Gavin Allen-Dunn, bassist

Seth Lewis

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Seth Lewis, guest trumpeter

Shane Endsley

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Shane Endsley ("Broken Mirrors") and the group's drummer,

Gabriel Mangione

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Gabriel Mangione (who bears a fairly well-known last name; could he have relatives in the music business?).

The strings, which provide a shimmering backdrop on most numbers, have the charming "Reprise" almost to themselves, and fare quite well. As to how America is rated, the verdict there is a firm "R" (the lyric explains why). "The Heavyweight" marks a pleasing departure from the norm, moving nicely as it welcomes cordial solos by Lewis, Rich, Cebulske and Dunn, and is a pleasant way to wrap up an album whose warm-hearted spirit overrides an otherwise less-than-heated persona.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Seraph; Broken Mirrors; Solidarity; Reprise; June; Anthem; What is the World Rated?; The Heavyweight.

Personnel

Zach Rich

trombone

Denin Slage-Koch

guitar, electric

Gavin Allen-Dunn

organ, Hammond B3

Seth Lewis

bass

Gabriel Mangione

drums

Anton Smirnov

violin

Rachel England

violin

Mathew Diekman

viola

Erin Patterson

cello

Additional Instrumentation

Gonzalo Teppa: bass; David Bernot: tenor sax & flute; Austin Cebulske: tenor sax & clarinet; Shane Endsley: trumpet; Wade Judy: trombone; Timothy Gocklin: oboe; Julian Carey: voice.

Album information

Title: Solidarity | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: OA2 Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Spring Releases From Jordan VanHemer...
< Previous

Bunny Brunel, Gergo Borlai, Casiopea...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.