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Angela on the Arts: Within
ByThe veteran of the trio is trumpeter

John D'Earth
trumpetb.1950

Lionel Hampton
vibraphone1908 - 2002

Pat Metheny
guitarb.1954

Bonnie Gordon
viola
Michelle Oliva
clarinet, bassMuch of the album offers a quiet poignancy, as on the elegiac "Absence," where despite beginning with a playful turn from D'earth on flute, the track eventually settles in to a mournful reflection that brings out a powerful convergence among all three players, with D'earth's plangent trumpet tracing delicate figures interwoven with the gentle musings of Gordon and Oliva. Other tracks possess a stronger momentum, such as the suitably-titled "Obstinato," where Oliva's repeated phrases create a march-like tempo to draw out the jauntier side of D'earth's and Gordon's playing, or "Black Coffee," in which D'earth's muted growls catalyze his partners' rhythmic proclivities in a fittingly bracing set of maneuvers.
The album also makes judicious use of guest musicians, giving the trio opportunities to move in other directions. The addition of bassist Kevin Eichenberger allows Gordon to showcase her pizzicato technique on "Subwoofer," while soprano saxophonist Jack Sheehan's spirited appearance on "Grounded" frees D'earth to take on the role of percussionist, as his various interjections add further texture to the music.
The one downside to having a large number of rather brief tracks (several come in at under two minutes in length) is that we rarely get to hear the trio stretch out to develop its ideas more fully. The album sometimes has the feel of a set of conversation-starters rather than a sustained dialogue. In this regard the longest piece, "Within," at over seven minutes' duration, offers a tantalizing glimpse at what these musicians can do with a longer timeframe, as the piece unfolds gradually, with possibilities that are exchanged and explored by all three players in a riveting display of empathetic freedom. It's perhaps the most fully-realized example of the trio's potential, although there are plenty of other moments on this disc that offer similar rewards for a listener's devoted attention. ">
Track Listing
Timbre; Escape; Obstinato; Subwoofer; Grounded; Within; Coda; Unsung; Fog; Black Coffee; Emergent; Willful/Soulful; Absence; Bird of Paradise; Little House; Inside Again.
Personnel
Angela on the Arts
band / ensemble / orchestraJohn D’earth: trumpet, flugelhorn, flutes, percussion; Bonnie Gordon: viola; Michelle Oliva: bass clarinet; Brian Caputo: electronic percussion (15); Kevin Eichenberger: double bass (4, 9, 11); Will Evans: trumpet (12); Jack Sheehan: soprano saxophone (5, 11).
Album information
Title: Within | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Small World Records
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About Angela on the Arts
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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