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JULIAN ARGUELLES |
Label
Basho Records
1 Barcelona 1936 9:40 2 You See My Dear 4:18 3 Phaedrus 9:28 4 Evan's Freedom Pass 8:21 5 Skull View 10:09 6 Hi Steve 12:45 7 Mish Mash 11:44 All compositions by Julian Argüelles |
The Frankfurt Radio Big Band conducted by Julian Arguelles
Earlier this year, multireedist, composer and arranger, Julian Argüelles released Inner Voices, a “playfully inventive and richly rewarding” multitracked solo album that did as much to confirm his reputation as one of the UK’s most adventurous, and distinctive artists, as it did to solidify his place in the UK Jazz Hall of Fame. As Jazzwise noted, it was “a fascinating glimpse into the world of one of the most expressive jazz saxophonists this country has produced in the last quarter of a century”.
The recording was somewhat of a ‘comeback’ album for Argüelles, who has for the past two years been dividing his time between the UK and Germany where he works with the HR Big Band in Frankfurt. Little did the critics know, that within the first half of 2009, Argüelles would release a solo album, undertake a trio tour, a quartet tour and now with Momenta, a big band album.
Momenta is Argüelles’ return to a big band setting, and is the culmination of composing, rehearsing and performing with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. Recorded live in concert, Momenta is a collection of new arrangements of Argüelles compositions, both old and new, plus two new compositions specifically for this project.
Argüelles is a highly versatile musician. His ever-changing formats have produced acclaimed recordings and tours with trio, quartet, octet and solo, yet his relationship with big bands is a long-standing one. As a teenager he was a member of the European Youth Jazz Orchestra, later becoming a founding member of the mid 80’s maverick ensemble, Loose Tubes. He has worked with large groups led by Django Bates, and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, and has been with Kenny Wheeler’s Big Band for 20 years. In addition, Argüelles has written for, amongst others, the Hamburg Radio Big band, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Orchestra. And although he feels this project is an extension of his earlier arrangements, he admits that “the more I write music for large ensembles, the more it sounds how I had hoped!”
Shortly before the Momenta rehearsals began, the Big Band pianist broke his finger, enabling Argüelles to invite a guest. By stroke of luck, the tour de force of British jazz, the prodigiously gifted pianist Gwilym Simcock was able to join Arguelles on this big band outing. “Julian was one of my musical heroes when I first got into jazz” says Simcock, “so it’s a huge honour and pleasure for me to play Julian’s music and work with such wonderful musicians as the HR Big Band.”
As one of the most widely acclaimed artists on the British scene, Simcock is revered for his “glittering solos”, “harmonic sophistication”, “intricate improvisation”, “rhythmic agility” and “technical accomplishments”. Yet, says Argüelles, “aside from Gwilym’s exceptional playing technique and sense of harmony, it’s the romanticism of his playing; his emotional quality that I most admire”.
With that in mind, Argüelles wrote a brand new piece – the album’s superb opener, Barcelona 1936 – and rearranged some of his compositions specifically to feature Simcock's enormous skills. “Like all of my work, the main ingredient I want the listener to feel is one of emotion: sometimes I like to write complicated music, sometimes very simple music; interesting, joyful or dark, but whatever the mood or vibe, it’s the emotional quality I want to be in the forefront”
Indeed, much of Argüelles’ past success lies in the range of feelings he explores, and Momenta is no exception. Crucially, none of the pieces conforms to conventional jazz big-band style; and, as is usual for Arguelles, he was keen for the music to have a connection with the jazz tradition without it being an imitation of things that have come before. Instead, Momenta explores a vast dynamic range from light and tender to an almost zealous energy. “After all” he says, “that’s what I love most about jazz - the emotional reaction”.
Personnel
Julian Argüelles tenor/soprano saxophones
Gwilym Simcock piano
Heinz Dieter Sauerborn,Oliver Leicht, ,Tony Lakatos, Steffen Weber, Rainer Heute (saxes)
Tobias Weidinger, Martin Auer, Thomas Vogel, Axel Schlosser (trumpets/flugelhorns)
Günter Bollmann, Peter Feil, Christian Jaksjö, Manfred Honetschläger (trombones)
Martin Scales (guitar)
Thomas Heidepriem (bass)
Paul Höchstädter (drums)
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