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Chad McCullough: The Charm of Impossibilities

By Dan McClenaghan
August 6, 2023
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Chad McCullough: The Charm of Impossibilities

Trumpeter Chad McCullough encountered classical composer Olivier Messiaen's "Quator pour la fin du temps" back in the early days of his jazz career. That music was written in 1940 by Messiaen to be played by a chamber ensemble consisting of the composer's fellow inmates in a German prison camp.

McCullough's The Charm Of Impossibilities takes its inspiration from this classical work. McCullough describes Messiaen's chamber piece: "Complex in structure, yet still accessible to the casual listener and completely overwhelming emotionally." A trip to YouTube bears this out.

"Quator pour la fin du temps" was scored with a classical quartet in mind—violin, clarinet, cello and piano. McCullough scored his music here with a trio in mind—trumpet, bass and drums, with

Jon Irabagon

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Irabagon's saxophones, tenor and soprano, sitting in on five of the eleven tunes.

McCullough's compositional goal was to use the classical composer's methods, as laid out in Messiaen's "Technique of My Musical Language" (1944), in a way that opened paths for improvisation. He did it well.

The music is relaxed, with a feeling of fluid spontaneity. "Retroactive Resonance" opens the show in a vivacious mode, McCullough and Irabagon trading back and forth, with bassist

Larry Kohut

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Kohut and drummer

Jon Deitemyer

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Deitemyer laying down a shifting, complex backdrop. Irabagon burns things up with an edgy solo. McCullough seems to keep things reigned in when he is out front, just barely.

Bee In The Flower is featured in the trio setting (Irabagon sitting out), and in the quartet quartet (Irabagon sitting in). Both versions showcase the group's chamber esthetic, with some fine off-kilter rhythm work by Kohut and Deitemyer and some of the most intricately lovely horn work from McCullough (both takes) and Irabagon (on take two). This particular tune has the mood of delicate buoyancy and prettiness of

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's "The Queen's Suite" ("Sunset and the Mockingbird," Lightening Bugs and Frogs").

The entirety of The Charm of Impossibilities sounds cohesive, due to Messiaen's structural modes and McCullough's compositional skills. It is beautiful, uplifting, accessible and compelling.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Retroactive Resonance; Remain Soverign.

Personnel

Chad McCullough

trumpet

Larry Kohut

bass

Jon Deitemyer

drums

Jon Irabagon

saxophone

Additional Instrumentation

Jon Irabagon-tenor and soprano saxophones (1,4,6,10,11)

Album information

Title: The Charm of Impossibilities | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Calligram Records

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