Justin Morell - Septet (1999)

Tracklist

01. Jungle book
02. Whirly bird
03. Seventy three falling
04. You might be mistaken
05. Rumble
06. Dog years
07. Occam's razor
08. Fine art in the eye of the beast
09. Evil twins
10. Passers by

Young California-based electric guitarist Morell has released two previous CDs, but this is his first with a septet. As a musical linguist, he has his somewhat twangy feet firmly planted in soil enriched by the John Scofield/John Abercrombie/Bill Frisell strain of contemporary players. As a composer and bandleader, he strongly recalls contemporary peers the Either/Orchestra, Anthony Wilson, and Jim Cifelli. The septet includes such notables as the great veteran L.A. studio drummer John Guerin and outstanding soloists like trumpeter John Daversa and saxophonist Tom Peterson. Morell wrote and arranged all ten selections. Odd meters crop up only occasionally, as in the spirited, highlife-flavored Jungle Book and the quirky, counterpoint-loaded Dog Years. More angularity leads to hard swinging for the darker hues of Evil Twins, while Morell's most interesting writing comes up during Occam's Razor, which displays a truly original stance and a nice feel for modern big-band composing. At its fullest and most expansive, the septet wells up with emotion during the cool blues of Whirly Bird, goes serene and sultry during Fine Art in the Eye of a Beast, and breaks it down simply on the ballad Passers By. The easy waltz You Might Be Mistaken sports horns sad and haunting. The easy duckwalk funk of Rumble finds the band at its most playful. On the intricate side, Seventy Three Falling is a collapsible bop featuring a diffuse melody line, Morell's loose and winding guitar, and moaning horns. Guerin is the glue throughout: His no-nonsense rhythmic presence seals the fate of the frameworks that Morell chooses, energizing and inspiring the soloists and riveting down the melody lines with his own personal brand of indefatigable swing. A promising effort that hints at much better things to come.

Guitar – Justin Morell
Bass – Todd Sickafoose
Bass Clarinet – Bob Carr
Drums – John Guerin
Tenor Saxophone – Tom Peterson
Trombone – Alan Ferber
Trumpet – John Daversa

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