Big Heart Machine - Big Heart Machine (2018)

Big Heart Machine is 18 Brooklyn-based musicians dedicated to performing Brian Krock’s idiosyncratic, unclassifiable compositions. Their eponymous debut album- produced by multi-Grammy nominated composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue- features a vast range of music that explores the intersection

of jazz improvisation, contemporary composition, and heavy metal aesthetics. The centerpiece of the record is Tamalpais- an expansive, five-movement suite of music inspired by the natural beauty, challenging terrain, and resilient ecosystem of Mount Tamalpais in Northern California. Within 40 minutes, one hears Baroque recorders sliding in and out of harmony, spiraling harmonic sequences that never repeat, non-retrogradable

rhythms that groove harder than Messiaen ever imagined, free group improvasitions that broder on insane, and Meshuggah-like riffs that mesmerize. Don’t Analyze- taking it’s name from one of John Cage’s “Rules for Students and Teachers”- features original rhythmic conceptions that were inspired by the drunk beats of J Dilla. Mighty Purty is an absurdist reconstruction of one of Duke Ellington’s most emblematic compositions- the identity of which shall remain a secret. Krock and his cohorts approach this broad range of influences with sincerity and emotion, creating a cohesive sound that is both unique and indebted to the entire history of creative music.

Tracklist:
01 - Don't Analyze
02 - Tamalpais- I. (Stratus)
03 - Tamalpais- II. Steep Ravine
04 - Tamalpais- III. Stinson Beach
05 - Tamalpais- IV. Dipsea Steps
06 - Tamalpais- V. (Cirrus)
07 - Jelly Cat
08 - Mighty Purty

Miho Hazama- conducter
Charlotte Greve- soprano & alto saxophones, clarinet, flute, sopranino recorder
Brian Krock- alto saxophone, clarinet, piccolo, flute, alto flute, soprano recorder
Timo Vollbrecht- tenor & soprano saxophones, clarinet, soprano recorder
Paul Jones- tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto recorder
Jay Ratmann- baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, tenor recorder
John Lake- trumpet & flugelhorn
Nolan Tsang- trumpet & flugelhorn
Cody Rowlands- trumpet & flugelhorn
Kenny Warren- trumpet & flugelhorn
Nick Grinder- trombone
Chris Misch-Bloxdorf- trombone
Isaac Kaplan- trombone
Jennifer Wharton- bass trombone
Yuhan Su- vibraphone
ArcoIris Sandoval- piano & synthesizer
Olli Hirvonen- electric guitar
Marty Kenney- electric and upright bass
Josh Bailey- drums and percussion
With invaluable assistance from Peter Lenz, Adam Neely, and Molly McAdoo