.SFJAZZ Collective

Live 2008: 5th Annual Concert Tour

A-list San Francisco repertory band the SFJAZZ Collective went all
out this year with its new three-disc set, which includes
interpretations of tunes by Wayne Shorter and an original composition
by each band member. The set kicks off, as would be expected, with an
arrangement by MacArthur Genius awardee Miguel Zenón, who
emerged as the group’s hot young star after saxophonist Joshua Redman
departed. Zenón has a gift for turning everything he writes into
epic material, and his rendition of Shorter’s 1964 tune “Armageddon” is
no exception. In this case, the altoist pushes the beat and emphasizes
the tautness of those stacked minor chords. He also adds several
theatrical horn lines, including a grand wallop at the beginning and
one that undergirds Robin Eubanks’ trombone solo. “Armageddon” closes
on a diminuendo to make room for one of the most sophisticated
compositions on the set, a sinewy piece called “Aurora Borealis” by
pianist Renee Rosnes.

Live 2008 is full of surprising moments, such as vibraphonist
Stefon Harris singing audibly during his solos on “Go” and “Yes and
No,” and the voiceover recording on Eric Harland’s “The Year 2008,”
which gives the album a more contemporary edge. Harland said he based
his tune on a sample from hip-hop producer J Dilla. It begins with a
shard of melody that builds over several bars, as band members
gradually waft in (beginning with a light fizzle from Rosnes and
bassist Matt Penman, who give the theme a bit more scaffolding before
the horns start embellishing it). A stand-out on disc two — which
also features Penman’s inventive reinterpretation of Shorter’s 1966
tune “El Gaucho,” plus some killing trombone solos — “The Year
2008” highlights the talents of Harland, a now-ubiquitous sideman who
should really consider dropping his own album.

For a band that’s so format-oriented, and so grounded in its
principles, Live 2008 seems fairly adventurous. These musicians
show respect for Shorter’s material but take more liberties than they
did in last year’s homage to Thelonious Monk. More importantly, the new
compositions are wonderful. (SFJAZZ)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

East Bay Express E-edition East Bay Express E-edition
19,045FansLike
14,592FollowersFollow
61,790FollowersFollow
spot_img