Samuel Blaser: 18 Monologues Élastiques (Blaser Music BM018CD)
Albert Mangelsdorf’s Tromboneliness, George Lewis’ Solo Trombone Record, Paul Rutherford’s The Gentle Harm Of The Bourgeoise – trombonists have made some classic solo records. Here’s another to add to their number. Swiss trombonist-composer Samuel Blaser first released 18 Monologues Élastiques in 2020. These 18 originals were recorded in 2013 in Berlin, and pay tribute to “Dix-neuf Poemes Élastiques” by fellow Swiss artist, the early 20th century modernist poet Blaise Cendrars.
Blaser was 2021 DownBeat Critics Poll “Rising Star Trombone”, and has collaborated with Pierre Favre, Paul Motian and Marc Ducret, and leads his own groundbreaking ensembles. He’s a traditional – as opposed to a cool school – trombonist par excellence, and the range of effects on this album is remarkable. Thomas Staudter writes in his liner notes that Blaser’s trombone has a full mimetic range, giving voice to “the entire animal kingdom all at once”. That’s an excellent description. The effects are held together by a powerful artistic vision, that makes this solo album both creative and totally accessible.
Spatialisation is fully exploited in the recording, which begins with the sound effects of Appearance, then moves onto the wonderfully bluesy Missing Marc Suetterlyn. Rotor Bursts has the angularity of an atonal line, while Le Grand Numéro is the freest improv. A hugely varied and enthralling release – highly recommended.
Paul Cornish: You’re Exaggerating! (Blue Note Records LP 7585515/CD 7585514)
“Those early Robert Glasper records on Blue Note, like Canvas and In My Element, were my first window into this legacy I’m part of,” comments fellow Houston pianist, Paul Cornish. His fine new album features his trio with bassist Joshua Crumbly and drummer Jonathan Pinson, performing nine originals.
As with other Houston musicians, holiness church was pivotal to Cornish’s development. By middle school he was a working musician, playing contemporary gospel at a youth church. “I still play in church to this day,” Cornish says – a three-service weekly grind. He attended USC Thornton School of Music, then UCLA’s Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, where he was mentored by Hancock and artist-in-residence Wayne Shorter – surely an extraordinary experience.
Like Jason Moran and Robert Glasper, he’s absorbed contemporary genres such as hip-hop, and collaborated with pop luminaries such as Kanye West. That’s apparent here on DB Song, named after the genre of drum and bass. Queen Geri, a tribute to the late great Geri Allen, is one of the best compositions. Allen was a vital influence, and the piece is inspired by her composition Drummer’s Song. Palindrome, another intriguing piece, is based round a rhythmic figure created by drummer Ben Riley. It has a guest appearance by guitarist Jeff Parker.
Cornish’s playing is elegant and stylish, and its individuality gradually becomes clearer. He’s young and there are many players such as Joey Calderazzo that I’ve heard in the early stages of their career who haven’t blown me away, but have become top players. So I expect good things from this excellent musician.
Sean Imboden/SILE: Communal Heart (Outside In Music 2511)
Saxophonist and composer Sean Imboden has released three albums as leader, most recently this album by SILE (Sean Imboden Large Ensemble). Imboden is a fine player and composer who’s paid his dues. He toured internationally for many years with various Broadway productions, taught at Indiana University, and currently teaches at Butler University and Ball State University. He’s worked with Slide Hampton, Valery Ponomarev, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Barry Manilow and Johnny Mathis, and appeared on The Tonight Show.
Imboden’s website biography pays tribute to his two musician parents – his father, a woodwind player, still works on the Indianapolis scene at age 77. After some years playing commercially, Imboden explains, “I decided to … focus solely on fulfilling my potential as a creative artist.” He continues “I chose to title the album Communal Heart because of the strong sense of community I feel whenever the band gets together … as well as the overwhelming support we received with our Kickstarter.”
SILE is a 17-piece big band of first-rate musicians from central Indiana, created in 2017. “We’re proud to be one of the few modern jazz big bands in the Midwest, and we can go toe to toe with our coastal brethren!” Imboden proclaims. On this evidence he’s totally justified. The album is the band’s debut release and presents innovative originals and striking arrangements – or rather, re-compositions – of standards. This incredibly exciting album has already gained a four-star review in All About Jazz, and it certainly shows the depth of jazz talent in the USA.
All compositions are by the leader. The album begins powerfully with Fire Spirit, with solos by John Raymond – melodic and involving trumpet – and Imboden himself, lucid on burly tenor saxophone. A highlight is the blazing Certified Organic, with a coruscating guitar solo by Joel Tucker. As a composer and arranger, Imboden cites as influences Sam Nestico’s Basie arrangements, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, the impressionism of Maria Schneider and the contemporary work of Darcy James Argue. Compositions, arrangements – insofar as these can be separated – and soloing are superb. A beautiful synthesis of spontaneity and planning.
