Voices: A Musical Heritage
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
Listen to Voices: A Musical Heritage
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra have been at it since 1997, and this 6th release brings 8 commissioned pieces that illustrate the rich musical heritage of Manitoba.
“Keeyn” opens the listen with Will Boness’ warm, mesmerizing piano and a trio of saxophones, as Fabio Ragnelli’s agile drumming anchors the very rich climate of the John Stetch original, and “Homenaje”, by Rodrigo Munoz, follows with Gilles Fournier’s skilled bass amid a busy display of brass dynamics that spread across a very diverse landscape.
Further along, Jeff Presslaff’s “The Living Mind” moves with firm and very focused playing, where Presslaff’s skilled trombone meshes well with the saxes and trumpet, while “Shadows”, by Richard Gillis, places Victoria Sparks on percussion and Larry Roy on guitar for the animated and melodic album highlight.
Residing close to the end, “Ishpiming”, by Andrew Balfour, welcomes Karl Kohut on bass and Joel Green’s well timed trombone to the dizzying, dense interaction, and “The Bison” exits with Monica Jones, Kyle Wedlake and Connor Derraugh handling saxophones for the groove filled finish.
An extremely well executed listen that recruits big band ideas and is never short on solos, there’s a whole lot of talent present, and the very developed pieces keep us engaged and enthralled for each note.
Travels well with: Will Bonness- Change Of Plans; Erin Propp & Larry Roy- We Want All The Same Things