Saxophonist and
composer Christine Jensen's second album with her Jazz Orchestra marks a
significant growth in her writing for large ensemble. Habitat (available March
11 on Justin Time Records) features six compositions, all with a deeply
ingrained sense of place. "I always search for a theme in my
writing," Jensen explains. "The only question is whether the theme
comes out of the music or vice versa. This time, the music came from places, or
the feelings and imagination of place."
For Jensen, the
process of writing for large ensemble is a time-consuming one. "I average
about two pieces a year," she admits, from the initial sketch to
orchestration to revision after reading it through with the band. The
compositions have now grown to be explicitly for the orchestra. Jensen achieves
the fine balance of small group improvisation with large ensemble orchestration
and melodic development, in the vein of her inspiration Bob Brookmeyer and her
contemporary (and fellow McGill alumnus) Darcy James Argue.
Much of the band
remains intact from the Juno award-winning Treelines, including featured
trumpet soloist Ingrid Jensen, with a few key personnel changes. Rich Irwin
assumes the drum chair here - "he's a studio drummer with a great sense of
time, and he listens to every detail of the music," Jensen enthuses. The
foundation of the band is in good hands with Irwin, returning bassist Fraser
Hollins, low brass specialist David Martin, and Samuel Blais on baritone
saxophone. "If the low end of the band is solid, the rest of the band
shines." This mix of accuracy and familiarity with Jensen's music allowed
Habitat to unfurl more quickly. "We only did two takes of almost
everything," Jensen says, still in awe that a recording of this grandeur
only took a day-and-a-half of studio time with the full orchestra.
The rapport between
Christine and Ingrid Jensen is in full evidence on "Treelines," a
2010 commission from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. An episodic piece that
seamlessly weaves its way from open improvisation to straight ahead swing,
Ingrid serves as the pivot for each new section. "It's reflective of how
we hang out together," Jensen says with a laugh. "In two hours we can
cover a lot of ground, from serious music analysis to philosophy to goofing off
with our kids." Given the sisters' busy schedule, Jensen has presented
large ensemble concerts without Ingrid, allowing her to showcase more of the
other impeccable soloists in the band, notably Chet Doxas' tenor feature on
"Nishiyuu." "I consciously wanted to feature Chet, and I tried
to capture the spirit of his playing within the piece," explains
Christine. Other band members, including alto saxophonist Erik Hove and pianist
John Roney, take the spotlight on "Intersection," a piece that predates
Treelines.
One of Jensen's
strengths as a large ensemble jazz composer is her ability to link contemporary
harmonic language, as evidenced in the beautiful chorale writing on "Blue
Yonder," with traditional big band structures and swing. "I grew up playing
dance band music, and I'm probably the last generation to get to do that, where
I sat in a section with people that taught me to play music from their
era," Jensen recalls. "I've played the Basie and Glenn Miller books
to death as a student. That music is in me." However, Jensen is also
marked by a boundless curiosity, and her fascination with the brilliant forward
motion Afro-Peruvian festejo rhythm is the basis for "Blue Yonder," a
piece commissioned by UMass-Amherst. "My brother-in-law [drummer/percussionist]
Jon Wikan likes to share his enthusiasm about certain rhythms that he studies,
so we worked - a lot - on the festejo together." Jensen also cites Maria
Schneider's "Bulería, Solea y Rumba" as an influential piece, for its
use of Latin rhythms that are neither Cuban nor Brazilian in heritage.
Jensen features
herself on soprano saxophone on the final track, "Sweet Adelphi," the
lone piece on this album that has its roots as a small group tune that she and
Ingrid have frequently performed. "Initially, I thought the Jazz Orchestra
was just a project, but the band has taken on a life of its own. I now compose
with the large ensemble in mind."
Christine Jensen
Jazz Orchestra - Habitat - Release Date: March 11, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment