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Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden: Unfolding

By C. Michael Bailey
July 27, 2012
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Track review of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"

Natalie Cressman and Secret Garden: Unfolding

If John the Baptist was supposed to be the reincarnation of the prophet Elijah, then

Natalie Cressman

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Natalie Cressman is certainly the same for

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Teagarden. Both sing and play trombone, and that is all that's required for a spiritual connection. Cressman's debut, Unfolding, sports a crazy "Honeysuckle Rose" and a slew of fine originals. Equally capable as a vocalist and trombonist, Cressman—best-known these days as a member of Phish's touring band brass section—is also quite the decent arranger, favoring brass choral introductions not unlike fellow vocalist/trombonist

Henry Darragh

piano
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Darragh.

Cressman is fearless in her conquering of bassist

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus' elegy to saxophonist

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." Cressman adopts the lyrics penned by

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell's for the singer/songwriter's Mingus (Asylum, 1979), but completely and cleverly re-orchestrates the song. Introducing the piece with brass counterpoint, Cressman proceeds to vocally navigate the craggy harmony, lyrics and time of this challenging composition. Her voice is pitched well and even through the mid-range, giving the song a certain noir cast. Her arrangement turns the song into a chamber piece with solid momentum and appeal. A sweet deal.

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Track Listing

Flip; Whistle Song; Honeysuckle Rose; Echo; Skylight; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Waking; Reaching For Home; That Kind.

Personnel

Natalie Cressman

trombone

Natalie Cressman: trombone, vocals; Ivan Rosenberg: trumpet; Chad Lefkowitz-Brown: tenor saxophone; Pascal Le Boeuf: piano; Ruben Samama: acoustic bass; jake Goldbas: drums, percussion.

Album information

Title: Unfolding | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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Natalie Cressman Concerts

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Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini

Space
Evanston, IL

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