Album review: Mike Holober - This Rock We’re on: Imaginary Letters (Palmetto Records)

Mike Holober (piano/composer/MD); Gotham Jazz Orchestra (see lower graphic for personnel)

Jazz writing for larger ensembles these days is becoming more and more complex with the ensembles larger, the inspirations more varied and the genre gaps ever narrowing.

The project description of This Rock We’re on: Imaginary Letters is described in the notes as ‘a meditation on the beauty of nature and the fate of the planet’. Holober has channelled those sentiments through the imagined words of six ‘protagonists’ each one an author, artist and/or activist who has dedicated their life to the natural world (more details can be found on the composer’s website HERE).

I go along with that and even those who aren’t committed environmentalists (shame on you!) can’t fail to be impressed by the music, the quality of the compositions and the arrangements as well as the many A-list soloists. 

There's powerhouse blowing, reflective meditations, segments of chamber music often dominated by sonorous cello playing as well as tenor saxophone excitement from Chris Potter all fused into one glorious celebration of the planet we call Earth.

Two CDs lasting over 124 minutes seemed like it was going to be heavy going but I was wrong! Those two hours were compelling and intriguing, like a book you can't put down. It felt like I'd somehow got myself in on the ground floor of the orchestral music of the future. Highly recommended. Lance 

YouTube,  Release date - June 14.

Disc 1: Lay of the Land; On This Rock; Dirt Lover's Almanac; Another Summer; Tides; Another Summer Epilogue; To Virginia; Dear Virginia; Domes.

Disc 2: Refuge; Tower Pulse; Erosion; Three Words For Snow; Boundary Waters; Noetry; Skywoman Falling; This Rock We're On.