Album review: Ben Markley Big Band with Ari Hoenig - Ari's Fun-House

Gigging in and around Denver, Colorado, composer, arranger, pianist, band leader, side man and tutor, Ben Markley is a busy man. One of his projects has recently come to fruition. Following a first gig working alongside Ari Hoenig, Markley asked the New York-based drummer if he could arrange some of his compositions for big band. Hoenig liked the idea and, post lockdown, the finished article is Markley's new album Ari's Fun-House.

A little over sixty five minutes' worth of music recorded in July 2021 presents Hoenig's challenging compositions in a big band setting performed by a superb ensemble. Seven charts, of which the majority are searing workouts, spotlight Hoenig the musician and Hoenig the highly accomplished composer. Hoenig the drummer is all about rhythmic brilliance allied to strong harmonic and melodic sensibilities. The album's liner notes identify the soloists track by track, of which the first, Birdless, features Wil Swindler's incisive alto saxophone playing. In sharp contrast, Lyric takes it down, John Gunther's measured tenor sax contribution heard against impressive ensemble work, topped off by Hoenig's razor-sharp breaking beats.

A Celtic feel to parts of Arrows and Loops comes as a surprise, Markley at the piano, the sections deftly negotiating all ten minutes and twenty one seconds of a thrilling  roller coaster of a ride. Hoenig and band rock out on the album closer, Green Spleen, a feature for guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, the ensemble sound one of urgency. It's safe to assume Markley's band is hand-picked, charged with doing justice to Hoenig's charts. On first, second and third hearing, Ari's Fun-House is testament to Hoenig's compositional abilities, Markley's sparkling arrangements and the Ben Markley Big Band's collective brilliance.
Russell 

                                 

Aris' Fun-House by the Ben Markley Big Band with Ari Hoenig is available now on 0A2 Records (cat. no. 0A2 22200).  

  

Ben Markey Big Band with Ari Hoenig: Peter Olstad, Greg Gisbert, Dan Jonas, Alan Hood (trumpets); Adam Bartczak, Paul McKee, Rob Borger, Jon Gauer (trombones); Wil Swindler (alto sax, soprano sax, flute); Scott Turpen (alto sax); Peter Sommer (tenor sax); John Gunther (tenor sax); Sam Williams (baritone sax); Steve Kovalcheck (guitar); Ben Marley (piano, keyboards); Evan Gregor (double bass, bass guitar); Ari Hoenig (drums)