Nimble Digits
Origin, 2024
8/10
The Los Angeles composer, arranger and keyboard player Geoff Stradling pens a modern jazz orchestra listen, where his excellent band helps cultivate global ideas into the 10 tracks.
“Blue Note” starts the listen with the flowing brass and meticulous piano from Stradling that emits plenty of soaring musicianship, and “Brecker Sketch” follows with the dreamy winds complementing the agile drumming of the lively climate.
“Baton Noir” arrives in the middle, and is full of dynamic rhythm, where the winds are spotlighted- especially Alex Budman’s clarient- while “Here In Spirit” find a very intimate place to reside via the soothing and atmospheric waves of coziness.
Further still, “Wrap Party” carries a festive presence, where a frisky appeal radiates tremendous interaction between the colorful horns and animated drums, and “Habanero” exits with Tim McKay’s baritone sax and Erik Hughes’ skilled trombone, which accents the cultured percussion.
An adventurous outing that recruits 31 musicians to the Big Band affair, Stradling’s vision will forever be in demand and memorable.
Travels well with: Martin Budde- Back Burner; Zach Rich- Solidarity