Artist: Dan Willis And Velvet Gentlemen
Album: The Satie Project
Genre: Modern Jazz, Third Stream
Label: Daywood Drive Records
Released: 2010
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- Second Gymnopedie (7:24)
- Nocturne #2 (2:13)
- I Idylle (5:47)
- Nocturne #3 (3:12)
- Third Gymnopedie (6:07)
- First Gnossienne (4:08)
- Nocturne #4 (3:02)
- First Gymnopedie (6:27)
- III Meditation (4:25)
- Nocturne #1 (3:21)
- II Aubade (5:23)
- Second Gnossienne (2:35)
- Nocturne #6 (1:26)
- Nocturne #5 (1:57)
- Olga Polka (4:36)
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- Personnel:
- Dan Willis - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Duduk
- Chuck MacKinnon - Trumpet, Flugel Horn, and Electronic Pedals
- Pete McCann - Electric and Acoustic Guitars
- Ron Oswanski - B3 Organ and Accordion
- Kermit Driscoll - Electric and Double Bass
- John Hollenbeck - Drums and Percussion
- Jonathan Owens - Trumpet
- Tim Sessions - Tenor and Bass Trombone
- Richard Sosinsky - Double Bass
- Antoine Silverman - Violin
Erik Satie's music is timeless and beautiful, but can it stand up to interpretation by downtown New York jazzbos? In the hands of Dan Willis & Velvet Gentlemen the answer is a resounding "YES!" Willis' arrangements are as brilliant as they are varied. There are some straightforward readings (as on most of the Nocturnes) right alongside some pretty inventive and even daring ones. Second Gymnopedie starts as an accordion-sax-drums trio, then slides almost imperceptibly to a guitar-trumpet-drums trio. John Hollenbeck's alway engaging drumwork ties it all together, but the really amazing thing is how much the tune now resembles Miles Davis' "All Blues!" At the other end of the Miles spectrum, Willis makes I Idylle sound like an outtake from Agharta with its use of distorted electric guitar and electric trumpet. The percussion and arrangement on First Gnossienne give it a bit of a Middle Eastern flavor, and yet Satie's melodies shine through no matter what the setting. The Satie Project is a great album that simultaneously celebrates Satie's vision and takes his music where you never thought it could go. The playing is excellent throughout. Well done.
Review by Sean Westergaard