Record Reviews

UPPER AUSTRIAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA / KENNY WHEELER ~ PLAYS THE MUSIC OF KENNY WHEELER WEST WIND 2097 (Barcode: 4011778320975) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1995 Released: 1996 This is the debut album by the Austrian Jazz Big Band called The Upper Austrian Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, founded in 1991 and is still very active almost three decades later. Over the years the orchestra invited many prominent Jazz musicians as guest artists and this album documents the first of such collaborations, which features the legendary British Jazz trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist. The orchestra on this album consists of five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones and a rhythm section (guitar / piano / bass / drums) and of course includes also Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn as well as guest vocalist Ali GagglFind albums by this artist. Together they perform nine compositions, six of which are Wheeler originals and three are standards, all of which were arranged by Wheeler. The music was recorded live and offers a wonderful sound quality. The album was produced by saxophonist / composer Christian MaurerFind albums by this artist, who is the living soul and the leader of the orchestra. Of course Austria is a country with a deeply rooted brass tradition and therefore the existence of excellent Austrian Big Bands (Jazz and otherwise) is hardly surprising. It is after all in Austria where the most important European Jazz Big Band, the legendary Vienna Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist, was formed in 1977. The Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra has many subtle stylistic links to the Vienna Art Orchestra, like the use of a female vocalist singing mostly vocalese featured as a member of the orchestra, which was the VAO´s trademark. UAJO is perhaps less adventurous and more "disciplined", but some similarities, at least on this album, are obvious. The music should be familiar to Wheeler´s acolytes and spans his entire career up to the time of the recording of this album, going back to his early album "Windmill TilterFind albums with this title" and including his very recent (at the time) compositions. The wonderful arrangements keep the overall sound of the Big Band beautifully coherent, despite the diversity of the material and allow plenty of space for the orchestra members to play a long series of stunning solos, including Wheeler himself. The vocal parts are an absolute cherry on top. The treatment of the orchestra as one enormously potent musical instrument is wonderfully expressed here, with the emphasis on the European Jazz aesthetics, in which modesty and minimalism are more important than power and showmanship. The perfect harmony achieved by the orchestra throughout this album is miraculous, especially in view of the fact that this is a live recording. Overall this is an absolute gem of an album, which should be an integral part of every Kenny Wheeler collection, but also a schoolbook example of what European Jazz Big Band music is all about. Essential listening!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 12/04/2019

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