DAVID BODE

GOOD HANG

1718 Records

David Bode, alto & soprano saxophones/flute/arranger/composer/band leader.

Staccato notes introduce the arrangement for John Coltrane’s composition “Syeeda’s Song Flute.” The Bode arrangement is similar to the way Coltrane introduced it on his Giant Steps album. This time, the 19-piece big band led by David Bode, reinforces the shuffle groove and the excitement of the Coltrane tune in their own unique way. A New Orleans born saxophonist, Bode makes his debut musical statement as a band leader with this recording.

“Big Band Jazz was the original inspiration for me to pick up the saxophone, and I am so excited to share my interpretation of this music with the world,” David Bode quotes in his press package.

This album is a reflection of Bode’s eclectic taste in music, stretching from modern jazz to straight ahead, from classic ballads to New Orleans joy and shuffle.  His album, “Good Hang” was supported by a grant from the Threadhead Cultural Foundation.

This album was released 20-years to the day after Hurricane Katrina caused catastrophic damage to the City of New Orleans. It stands, along with these outstanding Louisiana band members, as a testament to strength, determination and rebirth.

“My family was very lucky with Katrina, but it still impacted me in a major way as I spent months away from Louisiana for the first time in my life. When I returned, I had a renewed sense of how important New Orleans is in the history of music.  This album is a culmination of many years of study, performance, writing and living. I hope my contribution to New Orleans musical history is enjoyed by all,” Band leader Bode affirms.

The bass of Calvin Morin-Martin is king during the band’s arrangement of “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”  I love the rich, warm, horn harmonics and the bass line that re-occurs to drag your ear into the piece.  Ari Kohn’s solo on tenor saxophone is formidable. It was so impressive when Calvin Morin-Martin steps into the glow of the spotlight to sing his bass solo. Beautiful!  Then they swing it. This is one of my favorite arrangements on this album.

Bode has composed a few songs for this project: “Cold Train Funk” and “Temporary Blindness.”  The Cold Train Funk tune is an homage to three of Bode’s favorite artists: The Meters, John Coltrane, and Johann Sebastian Bach.  The other song is a contemplation on how we all sometimes don’t notice things that are right in front of our face, as though we have Temporary Blindness.

This is a big band album full of spunk and zest, harmonically rich and featuring the debut of David Bode, band leader, arranger and composer.  I like it!

BIG BAND PERSONNEL: Ronan Cowan, drums; Calvin Morin-Martin, acoustic & Elec. bass; Eric Merchant, guitar; Daniel Meinecke, piano/Fender Rhodes/organ; Jimmy Williams, sousaphone. TROMBONES: Ethan Santos, Jeff Albert, Peter Gustafson, & Evan Oberla. TRUMPET/FLUGELHORN: Michael Joseph Christie, Mike Kobrin, Jonathan Bauer, Matt Perronne & John Zarsky. SAXOPHONES: Lori LaPatka, alto & soprano saxophone; Ari Kohn, tenor saxophone/flute; Byron Asher, tenors saxophone/B-flat & bass clarinet; Thad Scott, baritone saxophone/flute.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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