Timeless

From Alan Ferber Big Band's "Jigsaw" (Sept. 22) on Sunnyside Records.

There are many reasons why organizing a big band can lead many bandleaders to question their sanity.  Despite the challenges, it has become the flagship large ensemble in jazz and a vehicle for countless compositions throughout the years.  There is one important element of the modern big band that can help explain its staying power: community. 

In the capacity of instilling community, trombonist/composer/arranger Alan Ferber is doing major infrastructure work in the field of music. The Grammy Award nominee leads an acclaimed big band, writes and arranges for numerous international ensembles, performs and records with a “who’s who” of big band luminaries, and provides scores and seminars to many student and amateur ensembles, spreading the word of large ensembles to welcoming ears. 

Ferber’s new recording Jigsaw provides ample proof that his good work is paying off. Taking material that he has lived with, either performing with his ensembles or with those led by others, Ferber revisits and re-arranges the pieces to give what he feels are the songs’ best representations. Picking originals or pieces by his peers, Ferber has generated arrangements that evolved on the bandstand, informed by the response of bandmates and audiences. 

Ferber has led his big band over the past six years; it is made up of players who are not afraid to be expressive, whether in a big band or small ensemble setting. They have to be comfortable playing lyrically and melodically as well as be acute listeners who are willing to interact and feel time together. To accomplish this, Ferber assembled musicians of stylistically diverse backgrounds. In his trombone section alone there is a veteran of the Woody Herman Big Band and one of Kronos Quartet’s in-house composers. 

The band features saxophonists John O’Gallagher, Rob Wilkerson, John Ellis, Jason Rigby and Chris Cheek; trombonists Ferber, John Fedchock, Jacob Garchik and Jennifer Wharton; trumpeters Tony Kadleck, Scott Wendholt, Alex Norris and Clay Jenkins; and the rhythm section of Anthony Wilson on guitar, David Cook on piano and keyboards, bassist Matt Pavolka, drummer Mark Ferber and additional percussion by Rogerio Boccato. 

One of the luxuries of playing in or leading a band is connecting to audiences and fellow musicians. Ferber has experienced this with his ensembles and as a sideman in other groups. The program for Jigsaw comes from pieces that he felt really connected with listeners and participants over the past 10 years or so. All of the arrangements are new and function to serve the music, providing the best example of what these revisited pieces can be.

Alan Ferber is providing a service that all music lovers can appreciate. He brings a sense of community by providing unifying, satisfying music and a perfect vehicle for its dissemination, the Alan Ferber Big Band. Jigsaw is an especially moving example of music with heart.

Jigsaw

Lost In The Hours

Alan Ferber Big Band - Lost In The Hours

From Guilhem Flouzat Trio's "A Thing Called Joe" (10/6/17) on Sunnyside Records.

A Thing Called Joe

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Guilhem Flouzat Trio - Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe

'late night cookin' by @joshua-milo is part of RISING TIDES 008, a collection of music dedicated to shining light on artists with less recognition than they deserve, each with under 500 followers on SoundCloud, so be sure you support the artists and show them some love.

RISING TIDES 008 will be released gradually throughout August of 2017. A new song from the album will be posted on the SVNSET WAVES SoundCloud every Wednesday and Saturday/Sunday until the final release of the album on August 30th.

FOLLOW Joshua Milo:
@joshua-milo
facebook.com/officialjoshuamilo
twitter.com/joshuamilomusic

Timeless

SoundSaf