Reviews
ALL ABOUT JAZZ review by Jack Bowers March 5, 2008
Nimmons 'n' More - The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra - McMurdo Sound - 2007
This two-disc set is the second in which the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra has paid its respects to the dean of Canadian composer/arrangers, eighty-four-year-old Phil Nimmons (the first, comprising three CDs as a part of the Canadian Composers Portraits series, was released in 2005).
This time, it's Nimmons 'n' More, as compositions by the honoree (”Mod's Mode,” “Conversations”) bookend others by McMurdo, Mike Malone, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane, the standard “Over The Rainbow” and the late Harry Freedman's four-movement “Jazz Suite,” written in 1958.
McMurdo introduces the members of the orchestra at the end of Disc 1, and he and Nimmons say a few words in the middle of Disc 2, separating Freedman's suite from Nimmons' thirty-two minute “Conversations” (subtitled “Aural Communication”), commissioned by the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) Canada and performed by McMurdo's ensemble in January 2006 as Nimmons accepted the inaugural SOCAN/IAJE Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award.
It's a marvelous work, bright and lyrical, that opens slowly, gains momentum and evokes various moods as it shines the spotlight on a number of the orchestra's world-class soloists before ramming through some turbulence and coming to a smooth and trouble-free landing. The urbane “Jazz Suite,” which runs for nearly eighteen minutes, is presented by an octet led by trumpeter Malone and including guest Karen Rotenberg on English horn. As on “Conversations,” there's scarcely a fleeting moment that is less than engaging.
Besides the groovy “Mod's Mode,” Disc 1 embodies Malone's rhythmic “Patita” (on which he is featured on flugelhorn with bassist Paul Novotny) and McMurdo's soulful “Song For Antony,” dedicated to the memory of Antony Roberts (solos by tenor Alex Dean and guitarist Reg Schwager). Adderley's “Wabash” swings hard behind bristling commentary by altos John Johnson and Don Englert, as does Trane's “Impressions,” on which Quinsin Nachoff wrests every ounce of emotion from his tenor.
McMurdo arranged “Over The Rainbow,” a showcase for Johnson's expressive alto.
Now that Rob McConnell has retired the Boss Brass for good, McMurdo's orchestra is arguably the best Canada has to offer. No argument here. This is a superb ensemble, an opinion that Nimmons 'n' More serves only to underscore. The album, by the way, is available only through McMurdo's web site, www.davemcmurdo.com
J.D. CONSIDINE - Globe and Mail - March 18, 2008
Nimmons 'N' More - The Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra - McMurdo Sound
***1⁄2
However much the title might imply that this live album is a tribute to
the great Canadian clarinetist/composer Phil Nimmons, the music itself
suggests that the key phrase is " 'N' More." Trombonist Dave McMurdo
sees his Toronto-based big band as a sort of writer's showcase, and
Nimmons - whose gorgeously large-scale work Conversations (Aural
Communication) closes the album - is but one of the composers featured.
Recorded for the CBC and available through McMurdo's website
(http://www.davemcmurdo.com), this double-disc set features impressive
writing by McMurdo, trumpeter Mike Malone and the late Harry Freedman,
as well as sterling solos by some of Toronto's most accomplished jazz men.
" Dave McMurdo...[is] helping to keep the art of big band jazz alive and well in the Great White North.....The players here are big league" - Marke Andrews, The Vancouver Sun
"....the leader is particularily skilled at evoking the softest of colours, the ones that call for some combination of flutes, clarinets and muted trumpets."
- Mark Miller, The Toronto Globe and Mail
" This band has always had a reputation for sophisticated tunes and arrangements....To hear superior composing abilities that respect melody, color, texture and the right musical heft is always a treat." - Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star
" Big band bebop at its best" -Gil Sokolow,IAJRC Journal
"...this two-disc set [Fire + Song] should alert many stateside and European ears to its potential as a festival attraction."
-Jack Sohmer, Jazz Times
"..... this [Fire + Song] is not only one of the finest big-band releases of '97 but ranks high among the best we've heard in the last decade...." -Jack Bowers, Jazz News
December 26, 2002 The Toronto Star Best of 2002
Geoff Chapman’s Top 10 CDS
Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra
Just For Now (Sackville)
Canada’s leading big band is led by composer-arranger McMurdo with aplomb on this double-CD recorded by it’s 19 musicians.
Jazz Education Journal 30th Annual Conference Program
Jazz – Crossing All Borders January/February 2003
Jazz Orchestra, “Just For Now”, Sackville 5009
The Montréal Bistro is a favorite venue for the roaring Jazz Orchestra. This latest double CD by the group documents trombonist McMurdo’s music, his orchestra, and his arrangements/compositions heard in live performance. Organized in 1988, the group has been a veritable laboratory for writers and players alike; with McMurdo’s rationale, values, and keen direction, the orchestra has developed it’s own expressive sound. “Just For Now” propogates the effectiveness in fulfilling challenges in a broad plane of dynamic turns and nuances – from whispers to explosive fireworks. The CDs are marked with six original compositions/arrangements
contributed by Don Thompson, Mark Promane, Phil Nimmons, Terry Promane, Mike Malone and McMurdo. The other two charts are Gary McFarland’s “Weep” and the evergreen “I Hear A Rhapsody” credited to McMurdo. The musicians’ virtuosity serves the music with generous solo space. High level musicianship and shades of emotional warmth are reflected in ensemble and solo work. The orchestra is laden with first – rate soloists such as pianist Don Thompson, guitarist Reg Schwager, saxophonists Alex Dean, Quinsin Nachoff and Perry White, trumpet/flugelhornists Chase Sanborn, Mike Malone and Kevin Turcotte, plus trombonists Promane and McMurdo. Of all McMurdo’s CD ouput. “Just For Now” may be the strongest. It’s a blue ribbon jazz orchestra playing in top notch form. Catch it at the conference!
- Dr. Herb Wong noted Jazz critic based in the San Francisco area
DAVE McMURDO JAZZ ORCHESTRA,
JUST FOR NOW,
SACKVILLE 5009.
Big band fans seeking something new need look no further
than this Canadian ensemble, captured live on the bandstand at Toronto’s Montréal Bistro. The double disc set holds nearly two hours of genuinely swinging Jazz, with nary a dull moment to be had. Most of the material was composed by various band members,
including trumpeter Mike Malone (“What’s It Gonna Be?,” “Angels” and “Freckles” are his), veteran pianist Don Thompson
(“Blues For Gary” and “You Are The Song”), and trombonist /
leader Dave McMurdo, who wrote “B & S” and arranged Gershwin’s “But Not For Me,” Gary McFarland’s “Weep,” and the standard “I Hear A Rhapsody.”
The section work is crisp and well-balanced, with just the right proportions of collective precision and individual expression. McMurdo spreads the solos around, tending to feature just one or two players on each song and only taking a couple of solo spots for himself. Baritone saxophonist Perry White is quite wonderful on his feature, Phil Nimmons’ “Just For Now.” (McMurdo notes that each of the band’s five albums includes a contribution by the Canadian veteran, and this release is dedicated to him.)
Chase Sanborn’s sly flugelhorn solo on “Weep” is also worthy of special mention, as is pianist Don Thompson’s fine work throughout the set. In all, a very fine set, guaranteed to please the big band enthusiast.
Stuart Kremsky
Cadence Magazine March 2003
