Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra

Open Spaces- Folk Songs Reimagined

Cellar Music, 2023

8/10

Listen to Open Spaces- Folk Songs Reimagined

The inimitable composer Daniel Hersog puts a fresh coat of paint on these time honored songs, and also injects some originals, where Kurt Rosenwinkel, Scott Robinson and many others contribute to the folk-inspired affair.

The rumbling “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” layers the brass over Dan Weiss’ fluid drumming in the agile Gordon Lightfoot cover, and “How Many Roads”, a Hersog tune, emits Rosenwinkel’s dreamy guitar and Frank Carlberg’s subime piano for intimate climate.

Further along, “I Hear” benefits much from Noah Preminger’s tenor saxophone and Brad Turner’s trumpet for the free jazz exploration, while “Canadian Folk Song” is a breezy, gentle moment of rich horns, light keys and hazy guitar from the album’s best.

Close to the end, “Sarracenia Purpurea” makes great use of Scott Robinson’s skilled bass clarinet with firmness and sophistication present, and “Red River Valley” exits with Rosenwinkel’s meticulous guitar playing for a very intriguing and textured finish.

Most of us have heard these songs before, but they never sounded like this, as Hersog and company make an indelible impression with their own work, too,

Travels well with: Aline Homzy- Éclipse; Kaze & Ikue Mori- Crustal Movement