All Is Gladness In The Kingdom (Clean Feed)
Fight The Big Bull feat. Steven Bernstein
Released March 26, 2010
NPR Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2010
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_npTPBxuIOZjEH9ELOst11j3BLzXJhtuVc
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/15srAkE4GKMWIZjJiYyzS8?si=4Qx3BhzCTa-3MXpNlmbOIA
About:
Guitarrist, composer and arranger Matt White is back with his unique big band, Fight the Big Bull. And he brings with him a very special guest, Steven Bernstein, who trumpets all the way, contributes with a couple of scores, is the co-arranger, and also the co-producer. We feel his presence in every corner of the music, but this is, undoubtedly, a project coming from White’s creativity and vision. Once again, there’s direct or undirect references to Charles Mingus, and specially to the album “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady”, but synthesized in a personal and up-to-date project. It goes from unison melodies to free playing very near organized chaos, and from groovy situations to contrapuntal marvels which certainly would make Bach proud. The good spirited, but ironic, “All is Gladness in the Kingdom” has a particularly interesting focus: the relations constructed between the reed/brass section (Jason Scott, J.C. Kuhl, John Lilley, Bernstein, Bob Miller, Reggie Pace, and Bryan Hooten), and Matt White’s electric guitar, above a powerful rhythmic base sustained by the percussionists Brian Jones and Pinson Chanselle and by the contrabassist Cameron Ralston – in one track reinforced by Eddie Prendergast and his electric bass. Everything sounds like a machine going nuts, and that’s wonderful.
Track Listing:
1. Mobile Tigers 09:32
2. Mothra (Steven Bernstein) 09:35
3. The Sacred Harp 05:41
4. Jemima Surrender (Robbie Robertson) 07:09
5. Gold Lions 07:32
6. All Is Gladness in the Kingdom 10:56
7. Eddie and Cameron Strike Back/Satchel Paige 09:17
8. Martin Denny (Steven Bernstein) 08:07
9. Rockers 08:27
Personnel:
Jason Scott: sax tenor, clarinet, sax alto
J.C. Kuhl: sax tenor, clarinet
John Lilley: sax tenor
Steven Bernstein: tromba, slide trumpet
Bob Miller: tromba
Reggie Pace: tromba
Bryan Hooten: trombone
Matt White: guitar
Cameron Ralston: bass
Brian Jones: percussion
Pinson Chanselle: trap kit
Eddie Jones: electric bass (7)
Recorded February 20, 2009 – February 24, 2009, at Minimum Wage Studios, by Lance Koehler
Mixed by Lance Koehler, Matthew White and Steve Bernstein
Mastered by Gene Paul
Produced by Matt White and Steve Bernstein
Executive Production by Trem Azul
Design by Travassos
Photo by Ash Daniel
Art credit to “Eddie and Ani” for the visual inspiration
Review:
Imagine the intersection of free jazz and Southern music at large; now, take that idea and flesh it out for an 8- to 11-piece band, bristling with plump orchestrations and noisy breakdowns. That approximates the music of Fight The Big Bull, whose sophomore disc also features buzz-saw slide trumpet and some arrangements from New York guru Steven Bernstein. Not all the solos on All Is Gladness In The Kingdom are of the same caliber, and not every transition comes off perfectly cleanly. But there are too many good ideas in play here, many of them from the brain of leader Matt White. When this unit is at its best — and it is frequently here — it rears back and bellows, and cuts quickly to the pleasure centers of your brain.
Patrick Jarenwattananon (npr)
