Michael Leonhart Orchestra

The Normyn Suites

Sunnyside, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Normyn Suites

This 3rd album from the Michael Leonhart Orchestra documents the life of Leonhart’s 15 year old dog, Normyn, where reflection and grieving are both supported by a giant cast of players including names like Nels Cline, Danton Boller, Larry Goldings and many more.

“Shut Him Down” starts the listen and welcomes Elvis Costello, Joshua Redman & JSWISS to the punchy, rock’n’roll flavored jazz setting that benefits from stylish guitar lines and frisky drumming, and the title track follows with 5 segments that covers the stages of grieving. “Denial” leads with bright brass and playful bass lines, and it isn’t long until “Nostalgia” emits ambient string manipulation.

Deeper into the listen, “The Normyn Suite #2” surrounds love and loss with both a dreamy atmosphere as well as intimate strings, while “Newspaper Pane” brings back Costello with Bill Frisell for a more ominous angle before segueing into a beat driven and very modern approach.

The final track, “Wayne Shorter”, exits on a very high note, where Donny McCaslin’s soulful sax and Leonhart’s drums meet at a very adventurous intersection of exciting jazz prowess.

Leonhart plays no less than 10 instruments on the album, and his esteemed help make for a diverse, meticulous and timeless tribute to the mini dachshund named Normyn.

Travels well with: The Grace Fox Big Band- Eleven O’Seven; Roxy Coss- Disparate Parts