Jungsu Choi (vocals (2) composer/arranger); Eunmi Kim (flute); MinkYu Cha (alto); Sungil Bae (tenor); Yejung Kim (trumpet); Junyeon Lee (trombone); Sehwa Kang (cello); Sungyun Hong (guitar); Jungmin Lee (piano); Joseph Han (bass); Hyunsu Lee (drums) + Jinho Pyo, Sehyun Baik (vocals)
(Review by Lance)
Jungsu Choi: “In whatever direction jazz might develop, I am ready to welcome the new jazz, bye-bye jazz era! My music is meant to free jazz from jazz, without any labels”
Michael Gibbs: “Wow! This is top-class, modern big band jazz, with solidly and very well made, unique arrangements – energetic, orchestral, demanding, skilfully written…Jungsu Choi’s music introduces us to his fascinating feel and his talent. ”
Choi’s remarks may sound like posturing but, taken in conjunction with Michael Gibbs’ observations that thought is soon dismissed and, upon listening to the album, it becomes readily apparent that this is something special!
Leader Choi spent three years composing two and arranging all of the five tracks. He never actually had the chance to hear them during that period, they only existed, he says, in the shape of ink on hundreds of pages of paper.
Maybe, but when listening to the Tiny Orkester, one can but marvel at the skills of these 12 or so Korean musicians interpreting those ‘ink shapes’ so brilliantly.
You may think you’ve heard Anthropology, A Train and Spain one time too many but, take it from me, you’ve never heard them quite like this!
A Train is, in fact, retitled as What if Duke Ellington Didn’t Take the A Train? Junyeon Lee’s trombone solo brings some sanity into this attempt to derail the most famous train in jazz history.
Spain has a long intro and many changes of tempo before the tune emerges. Some scintillating flute work is almost submerged by the ensemble, complete with wordless vocal.
Anthropology has cool alto, fiery trumpet and more outstanding fluting including a flute/tenor counterpoint section that defies the use of the word incredible – it’s not strong enough!
Stolen Yellow has the composer vocalising as part of the ensemble, guitar solo by Hong, bullfight trumpet over steady trombone riff. Wild alto blast, fantastic writing takes it out.
The other original, Nach Wien 224, sees Choi and Pyo adding their voices to the ensemble with cello emerging briefly. Pyo can also be heard solo. This is as close to a ballad as it gets which isn’t very close although maybe it is by Korean standards.
King Gil Evans is dead. Long Live King Choi!
A late arrival in the CD of the Month Stakes.
Lance.
Available on Challenge Records or via Amazon-ITunes.
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