TECHNOCATS

PASSIONATA – THE MUSIC OF GREGG HILL FEATURING CHRIS GLASSMAN

Cold Plunge Records

Chriss Glassman, bass trombone/arranger; Walter Blanding, tenor & soprano saxophone; Skylar Tang, trumpet; Bryn Roberts, piano; Nathan Borton, guitar/arranger; Javier Enrique, bass/arranger; Keith Hall, drums; Michael Reed, arranger.

“Technocats” plays music that reminds me of the John Coltrane days. Every composition was written by composer, Gregg Hill. They open with the song, “Normality,” featuring Walter Blanding on tenor saxophone.  After his blustering solo, Javier Enrique enters on bass to boldly improvise.  Bryn Roberts joins on piano, followed by Blanding, now playing soprano saxophone, offering songs that sing like a wild bird.

Technocats is a popular contemporary jazz band, developed in Michigan’s vibrant jazz community at Michigan State University.  It’s led by bass trombonist, Chris Glassman. This group is comprised of arrangers, educators, performing jazz musicians and improvisers.  Together, they create Straight-ahead jazz with traditional roots, but they add 21^st century contemporary arrangements.

Each of these musicians contribute to the group’s evolving sound, relying on individual improvising and the relationship between the players to create their style. They use the compositions of educator and composer, Gregg Hill as a vehicle, producing an album of incredibly well-played music.

Four arrangers are featured on this production. They are Chris Glassman, Nathan Barton, Javier Enrique and Michael Reed. Featured composer, Gregg Hill is one of the producers along with Chris Glassman

A tune called “Traffic Jam” features a strong horn section, with Skylar Tang  on lead trumpet, Chris Glassman on his bass trombone and Blanding on saxophone.  This piece was arranged by Nathan Borton. The horns pull back a rich harmonic curtain of sound to allow Roberts to step stage center with an expressive piano solo followed by Glassman’s bass trombone expression.

“Horse Feathers” was arranged by Chris Glassman. It features an electric bass and the guitar of Nathan Borton.  This arrangement leans towards electronic funk with a taste of rock, and the horns share “fours” voraciously.

Greg Hill’s music lends itself easily to the interpretation of these four arrangers, as well as the participating musicians.  Each tune unfolds like the chapter of a good novel.  You can’t wait to turn the page and see what happens next!

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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