Search - Glenn Makos Group :: Now And Again

Glenn Makos / Now and Again By Scott H. Thompson Opening up the CD is the welcoming start/stop swing of Summer Joy. Winds blow the flighty sax to bird-like sky-high soaring, while the leader?s trumpet backs up, allowing freedom for the saxophone, guitar and cymbal tappin?. And its off to the races! Trumpeter Glenn Makos has convincing character in his sound. You immediately believe in him. Soft tones and colorful pursuits take you on a quiet, thoughtful stroll through a Fall afternoon in Central Park on the title cut Now and Again. Not sure if that?s what Glenn Makos had in mind when he wrote this beautiful melody, but that?s kinda what music is all about. The artist opens the senses of the observer, allowing personal interpretation of the art. It?s almost spiritual in its freedom to be pleased with the moment. Makos makes music that is original, searching and confident. His journeymen work well together. There is a band sound in the comfort they share in their wide- open travels. As Makos explains of the title cut, ?I wanted to capture a certain ?exotic? feeling with this tune.? The composition is melodic and searching, with the trumpet and sax joined at the hip. Bassist Loehrke leads off Mahomfa, and the pieces fall into place. As Makos describes, ?Mahomfa is a small town in western Hungary. Women with babushkas, sunflowered fields, and people riding their bikes along the country road between small towns serves as the inspiration for this tune.? Makos gets to showcase his chops with some high hits, cascading into a slow, smooth downward spiral of notes. The man is obviously in control of his instrument. Beautiful. Soprano and trumpet travel along together. On Hearts Dance, the warm, soft tones of guitar strings invite the listener to imagine they are in the same room to enjoy the interplay of brass and strings. You can hear the warmth and maturity in Makos? flugelhorn that comes from his continued work in the Manhattan jazz scene. Funky and slick, 12 Steps To Heaven, a word play on the Miles Davis tune Seven Steps To Heaven, slips in out of nowhere, almost unexpected in its casual, cool attitude. The tenor sax and trumpet play a 12-note row, while the bass player gives it the backbone and the traps man keeps it tickin? along. Very nice. One of my favorites on this. Sem Deklica Miada Vsesla (I?m A Happy Young Girl) is a traditional Windish folk song that?s been reharmonized, according to Makos. The collaborative effort of this CD is a worldly sound, with many influences and global love put into it. As Makos explains, ?The Windish are a small group of people that last had their own country in the 9th century, under King Sama. This is the area where the current borders of Slovenia, Austria and Hungary meet. During the late 19th century, efforts to regain independence were met with great resistance by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. My paternal grandfather was one of approximately 5,000 Windish that emigrated to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to settle on farms and work in the steel mills in the early 1900?s.? It?s music that comes from the heart. Blues n? boppin? is the next order of business with something called The Yellow Line. It swings along, stompin? to a halt. Then you?re suddenly drifting slowly again through the Windish valleys. At least I am, as the romantic song Travniki So Vai Zeleni (Meadows So Green) paints another perfect picture of solitude and bright flowers blowing in the breeze. The flugelhorn makes magic. That Day Off highlights the ?Harmon muted trumpet and guitar over an ostinato bass line that eventually leads to solo sections which each end with a brief interlude figure.? That?s musician talk for a hip closing tune to this hot CD. The band plays collectively, yet individually. This is a band you should embrace. Pass the good word.