American Complex

by Jim Gailloreto, Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet

Overview

For his sophomore effort with the Chicago-based HAWK string quartet in tow, Jim Gailloreto's skill in composition and arrangement for a string quartet has increased notably. Instead of forcing the quartet into a gypsy-jazz romp, Gailloreto keeps the players in their comfort zone -- free from improvisation, and showcasing technical mastery and careful collaboration without sacrificing an austerity of sorts. Over the top of the quartet, though, he plays a soprano sax lightly and without the woody tone normally reserved for it. He becomes a strong melodic player suddenly, wandering over a core of scoring. Here, it's Gailloreto's new compositions that win the day -- the American Complex series provides a progression of vocal forms as represented by the sax and quartet in remarkable clarity while staying fresh, and is easily the primary reason to give the album a listen. In the covers (from Monk to Fats Waller), the group performs ably but without the same mark of emotion as the originals. It's proficient but unable to stand up to those who have made the same applications before (such as the Kronos Quartet's albums Monk Suite and Music of Bill Evans). It's all interesting, but the real raison d'etre is in the title series. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	09/22/2009
Label:	Origin Records / Origin Classical
UPC:	0805553300627
Rank:	213497

Tracks

1. All the Things You Are, song (from "Very Warm for May")
2. Well you needn't
3. Honeysuckle Rose
4. Spring Song, for voice & jazz quintet
5. American Complex, for saxophone & string quartet~1. Soliloquy
6. American Complex, for saxophone & string quartet~2. Lullaby
7. American Complex, for saxophone & string quartet~3. Incantation
8. American Complex, for saxophone & string quartet~4. Sermon
9. Round Midnight, song
10. Wind Song, for voice & jazz quintet
11. Bad Clowns, for saxophone & string quartet

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Jim Gailloreto   Primary Artist,Alto,Sax (Soprano),Ensemble Director
John McLean   Guitar,Guitar
Patricia Barber   Piano,Vocals

Technical Credits

Patricia Barber   Composer,Lyricist
Jerome Kern   Composer
Ken Christianson   Recording
Neil Tesser   Liner Notes
Fats Waller   Composer
Jim Gailloreto   Arranger,Composer,Liner Notes
Jai Girard   Photography,Photography
Thelonious Monk Big Band   Composer
Zach Medearis   Assistant Engineer
Ty Williams   Assistant Engineer
Chad McCullough   Photography,Photography
John Bishop   Cover Design
Thelonious Monk   Composer