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Scott Jeppesen: Wonders
ByJeppesen, a once-upon-a-time protégé of saxophonist

Joe Henderson
saxophone1937 - 2001

Larry Koonse
guitar, electric
Josh Nelson
pianob.1978

David Robaire
bass, acousticb.1986

Dan Schnelle
drums"Hanging Gardens (Of Babylon)" opens the album and highlights the grandeur of its namesake through its drive, surging melodic spirit, and rhythmic strength. It brings a certain degree of clarity to the one wonder that's existence has repeatedly been questioned. "Last Man Standing (Great Pyramid Of Giza)," on the other hand, is a musical picture of the only one of the seven that remains. It's a sly and stealthily moving work enhanced by Nelson's outward bound keyboard work.
While certain aural aspects of these pieces naturally mirror the accepted or assumed visual nature of the constructs that served to inspire them, Jeppesen doesn't always take the expected path(s). On "Colossus (of Rhodes)," for example, he values mystery over magnificence, balancing uncertain thoughts with grounding musical ideals. Each one of his complex-yet-accessible creations manages to speak in different ways. "The Marble Tomb (Mausoleum at Halicarnassus)" finds a happy balance between astral spirits, brooding thoughts, and balladic ideals; the odd-metered "A Guiding Light (Lighthouse Of Alexandria)" pleasantly roams along at a comfortable clip; "Big Daddy (Statue Of Zeus At Olympia)" struts, swaggers, and swings with precision and purpose; and "Artemis (Temple Of Artemis At Ephesus)" allows the sun to shine through.
Three other piecesthe flowing, waltz-ish "Pillars Of Sand," the contemplative-turned-swinging "Hubris," and the loose-limbed, swing-centered "Shaken" (with guest tenor saxophonist

Bob Sheppard
saxophone, tenorb.1952
Track Listing
Hanging Gardens (Of Babylon); The Marble Tomb (Mausoleum at Halicarnassus); Colossus (Of Rhodes); Last Man Standing (Great Pyramid Of Giza); A Guiding Light (Lighthouse Of Alexandria); Big Daddy (Statue Of Zeus At Olympia); Pillars Of Sand; Artemis (Temple Of Artemis At Ephesus); Hubris; Shaken.
Personnel
Scott Jeppesen
saxophone, tenorScott Jeppesen: tenor saxophone, melodica; Larry Koonse: guitar; Josh Nelson: piano, keyboard; Dave Robaire: bass; Dan Schnelle: drums; Bob Sheppard: tenor saxophone (10).
Album information
Title: Wonders | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Creative Bottle Music
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