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omposer and arranger Dan Cavanagh pulls together a creative ensemble of musicians from around the country for his new release, "Pulse." A runner up in the 2005 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer's Competition, Cavanagh's writing & arranging covers wide expanses through this big band concept album, often interspersed by the readings and poetry of Tim Young. With shades of Jim McNeely, and hints of Bob Florence, Cavanagh's writing is engaging from the very beginning as he captures the spirit of the music with a patience and maturity that fits neatly in the continuum of modern large ensemble composers, from Gil Evans through Maria Schneider.
An exciting band with a firm melodic grasp, Ralph Lalama's quartet pours over musical themes with emphasis, as accents fall into place with angular motion and improvised forays push forcefully. The leader's suave tenor, John Hart's sultry guitar, Rick Petrone's driving acoustic bass and drummer Joe Corsello's rhythmic thunder combine gracefully to shape each tone poem with a lyrical message. With "Indian Summer," "Blackberry Winter," "Old Folks" and "Like Someone in Love," for example, Lalama and Hart apply vocal-like phrasing that settles in comfortably. Although it's interpreted at a quick tempo, "Just in Time" comes with a similar impression that relies on melody for its foundation. Even Corsello's extended drum solo rises and falls with the punctuation of a lyric that is felt but not spoken...http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30855
Bassist Drew Gress returns with the same group from 7 Black Butterflies (Premonition, 2005), but The Irrational Numbers is more than a logical continuation of Butterflies' postmodern lyricism. Instead, it's an album of more vivid extremes, ranging from detailed writing to even freer improvisational exchanges and an overall greater sense of adventure. Not that Butterflies was anything but intrepid, but Numbers ups the ante with ten Gress originals, proving the old adage about being the sum total of one's experiences...http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27880
