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Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - Sweet Sister Suite by Kenny Wheeler (2018) [Hard Bop, Post-Bop]; FLAC (tracks)

Hard Bop, Post-Bop, Neo-Bop
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Mike1985
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Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - Sweet Sister Suite by Kenny Wheeler (2018) [Hard Bop, Post-Bop]; FLAC (tracks)

Unread postby Mike1985 » 17 Dec 2018, 14:22


Artist: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Album: Sweet Sister Suite by Kenny Wheeler
Genre: Hard Bop, Post-Bop, Big Band
Label: Spartacus Records
Released: 2018
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Tracklist:
  1. Sweet Sister
  2. Keeper of the Light
  3. Worlds Apart
  4. Her Love Is Like an Endless Stream
  5. Constant Star
  6. Wondering Dream
  7. Twilight Chant
  8. Utopian Recital

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    Personnel:
  • Saxophones: Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow, Konrad Wiszniewski, Tommy Smith, Bill Fleming
  • Trumpets: Tom Walsh, Sean Gibbs, Tom MacNiven, Lorne Cowieson
  • Trombones: Chris Grieve, Phil O’Malley, Liam Shortall, Michael Owers
  • Piano: Pete Johnstone
  • Guitar: Rob Luft
  • Bass: Calum Gourlay
  • Drums: Alyn Cosker

Sweet Sister Suite was originally commissioned by Tommy Smith way back in 1996 and completed by composer Kenny Wheeler over a two year period. First performed by the SNJO in 1998, we have had to wait another twenty years for the piece to be recorded and released on CD. Along time coming indeed, but definitely worth the wait.

There is little more to be said about the SNJO, that has not already been written. A world renowned big band, with an impressive body of recorded work that covers much of the history of the music as well as exciting new works and commissions, we now come to expect the highest standards from the orchestra as norm and again with this recording we are not disappointed.

The work here presented was commissioned by Tommy Smith when he and Kenny Wheeler were working together with the great trumpeter being a sideman in Smith's quartet that toured and recorded the fine album Azure. Since then the stature of Smith and the SNJO has continued to grow, and the composer of the suite has sadly passed away; but this recording is a timely reminder of the delights of Kenny's music and how fresh and contemporary the music sounds two decades on.

The SNJO is augmented for this recording by two featured guests, Irini Arabatzi whose voice brings an added dimension to the ensemble, as Wheeler had a penchant for adding a voice (often Norma Winstone) to his arrangements, and trumpeter and flugel player, Laura Jurd, who is an inspired choice. Jurd shares the mercurial and quietly impish nature to her playing that was very much a part of Wheeler's own, but here perhaps is where the similarity ends, and Laura is able to embrace Wheeler's music and make her own personal statements. She gets no fewer than four solos, and each is as compelling as the last.

And this is one of the joys of the music. As distinctive and individual composer he was, his music can never be mistaken for that of anyone else, he always left enough space for the contributions of others and there are notable solos throughout. Most notable of these are pianist Pete Johnstone (who just seems to be getting better and better every time I hear him) on 'Worlds Apart' and 'Wondering Dream'; guitarist Rob Luft (also on 'Worlds Apart'), and altoist Paul Towndrow on 'Her Love Is Like An Endless Stream' and proving an excellent foil for guest, Laura Jurd.
Orchestra director and leader, Tommy Smith also excels in his solo statements, making a memorable contribution to 'Keeper Of The Light' providing a superb contrasting solo to compliment the voice (and the only time on the album we hear lyrics penned by Kenny) of Arabatzi. It is therefore much to Smith's credit that we get to hear this music at all. Firstly for commissioning the piece and then through his tireless work with the SNJO, through to recording and releasing the finished album on his Spartacus imprint.

All in all a remarkable piece of writing and orchestration from Wheeler, that provides some wonderful big band music superbly played by one of the best in the business. Simply unmissable, and a sure candidate to make my Albums of the Year list.
Reviewed by Nick Lea

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