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	Randy Sandke, Parthenia Viol Consort Trumpet After Dark Genre: Jazz With some notable exceptions, jazz and strings has too often been synonymous with "sweetening" or diluting the music to appeal to a broader audience. But Randy Sandke, through his use of a string section comprised of viols... more » « less
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CD Details

All Artists: Randy Sandke, Parthenia Viol Consort
Title: Trumpet After Dark
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Evening Star ES-109
Original Release Date: 4/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 5/1/2005
Genre: Jazz
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 750366010921

Synopsis

Product Description

With some notable exceptions, jazz and strings has too often been synonymous with "sweetening" or diluting the music to appeal to a broader audience. But Randy Sandke, through his use of a string section comprised of viols, as well as his always trenchant writing and commanding trumpet technique, breathes new life into the "jazz-with-strings" concept. Sandke's influences and interests encompass Beiderbecke, Armstrong, metatonal music and everything in between. The trumpeter has proven a most inventive writer for strings-just listen to his album Awakening (Concord), a collaboration with the Bulgarian National Symphony. This latest effort, consisting primarily of ballads and other atmospheric pieces, is certainly easy to listen to but is far from "easy listening." In Bill Charlap, Greg Cohen, and Dennis Mackrel, Sandke could not have chosen more sympathetic colleagues for this new musical venture. He calls Charlap "one of the most extraordinary musicians I've ever! worked with." Like Sandke himself, the pianist is at home in any setting and never "phones it in." His profound respect for melody is particularly germane to this project. Greg Cohen is arguably the most eclectic of all current jazz musicians. The bassist is equally at home in the bands of Ornette Coleman, John Zorn, and Kenny Davern, with each sounding as if to the manner born. Early in his career Dennis Mackrel held the drum chair in the Count Basie band before joining forces with Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Joe Williams, among many others. Both Cohen and Mackrel are superior soloists and sensitive accompanists and, as Sandke notes, "They work phenomenally well as a team."

CD Reviews

A surprise, but it works

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 06/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The premise may sound wacky: this is a jazz + strings project--but the strings are, in this case, a consort of viols (a Renaissance precursor to the violin). But it turns out to be an inspired decision: the darker, more intimate sound of the viols sifts together with the jazz group much better than the more brilliant sound of modern violins. As always with Sandke, the repertoire is carefully chosen, mostly in a ballad zone but also incorporating everything from early jazz to freebop (believe it or not, Chopin's "Etude in E" is made into something pretty funky & far-out). There are a few classics--a gorgeous "Soul Eyes", "Lush Life", "Monk's Mood", "Star-Crossed Lovers"--, some excellent originals, and some unexpected material, such as a John Dowland piece ("Can She Excuse My Wrongs") & Frank Signorelli's "A Blue Serenade". It all adds up to a fine disc, but what really makes it of course are the players: Sandke on trumpet & Bill Charlap on piano is a pairing that can't be beat in the contemporary jazz scene. Greg Cohen & Dennis Mackrel fill out the rhythm section, & the viols are the work of the early-music ensemble Parthenia.

This is one of my favourite jazz releases of the year so far. Sandke's also released a couple other discs simultaneously with this one, both of them equally strong though rather more "challenging": _Outside In_ is a big band project featuring a mix of avant-garde and traditionally-inclined players (Ken Peplowski, Marty Ehrlich, Howard Alden, Ray Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Uri Caine, &c) doing everything from Jelly Roll Morton to a graphic score; _The Mystic Trumpeter_ is a very strange & difficult but powerful set of two suites making use of a fresh harmonic language Sandke's developed, which he calls "metatonality". _Trumpet After Dark_ is a lot more immediately approachable--I could imagine it getting a lot of airplay, & even my wife (who's more of an early-music nut than a jazz fan) was pretty impressed with it. If you're looking for a very pretty album that's also got some real nous to it, check it out. Bill Charlap fans should scoop this one up in a hurry, too."

Wonderful!

David Hutchins | Sevenoaks, Kent. UK | 07/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This great CD should appeal to both jazz musicians and just plain enthusiasts. Randy is an exceptionally gifted and versatile player who has the ability to fit perfectly into a wide number of musical genres. The CD includes five original compositions, an arrangement of a etude by Chopin, works by Eillington, Monk and Strayhorn. The whole musical package is a delight. There is variety, colour and great jazz from both Randy's horn the captivating sounds of viols.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. Wonderful!"