The Warriors Of The Wonderful Sound - Soundpath (2020)

Composed by Muhal Richard Abrams

Some years before his death, pianist Muhal Richard Abrams received a commission from Bobby Zankel and his Warriors of the Wonderful Sound: to write new big band music for this Philadelphian ensemble known for what they did before with scores signed by Julius Hemphill, Rudresh Mahanthappa and Steve Coleman. He composed the 70 pages and 16 parts of “Soundpath” and attended the first rehearsals. The premiere in 2012 was a success, but only in 2018 – some months after Abrams passed away – a second opportunity to present it publically was possible, during the October Revolution festival. Some adaptations were made: Zankel invited Marty Ehrlich (who worked closely with the invited composer) as the conductor and some extra instrumentalists familiar with the master’s musical visions were added. The concert received a second standing ovation and the 17 musicians went to studio the next day. This is the resulting document, a historic one you don’t want to miss.Justice done.

Marty Ehrlich conductor/alto saxophone | Bobby Zankel alto saxophone | Julian Pressley alto saxophone | Robert DeBellis tenor and soprano saxophone | Hafez Modirzadeh tenor saxophone | Mark Allen baritone saxophone | Dave Ballou trumpet | Dwayne Eubanks trumpet | Graham Haynes cornet | Josh Evans trumpet | Steve Swell trombone | Michael Dessen trombone | Alfred Patterson trombone | Jose Davilla bass trombone | Michael Formanek bass | Tom Lawton piano | Chad Taylor drums