Ari’s Funhouse
Origin, 2022
8/10
The composer, arranger and pianist Ben Markley brings along a large handful of musicians for this occasion, including the drum extraordinaire Ari Hoenig, and it results in 7 giant, boisterous and solo filled tunes.
“Birdless” starts the listen with bright brass alongside swift keys and Steve Kovalcheck’s intricate guitar that makes an indelible impact, and “Lyric” follows with John Gunther’s tenor sax illuminating the timeless jazz flavor.
In the middle, “Bert’s Playground” emits a very stylish demeanor thanks to Evan Gregor’s bass and Paul McKee’s trombone, while “For Tracy” displays Greg Gisbert’s trumpet alongside Markley’s graceful piano playing.
Moving along, “Arrows And Loops” puts Hoenig’s exceptional drumming front and center amid Wil Swindler’s radiant sax and the warm grooves, and “Green Spleen” exits the listen with Peter Sommer’s tenor sax and Kovalcheck’s meticulous guitar complementing Markley’s key acrobatics.
An aptly titled record, each track present carves out it own unique fun, and the abundance of players in attendance allows for each track to radiate in its own light and is sure not to be missed for those with an inclination for big band sounds.
Travels well with: Rich Pellegrin- Passage; Hal Galper Trio- Invitation To Openness