MICHAEL DEASE BIG BAND

THE SLEEPER – THE MUSIC OF GREGG HILL

Cold Plunge Records

Meet Michael Dease.  He is a native of Augusta, GA, who now lives in Michigan and teaches at Michigan State University.  In his early years, Dease matriculated at Julliard, invited to the music program by trombone master, Wycliffe Gordon.  He is credited for winning the Downbeat Critic’s Poll and the Jazz Journalists Association “Trombonist of the Year” award.  He has also garnered a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. This latest album release continues to spread his great musical creativity across the continents, while shining a well-deserved spotlight on composer Gregg Hill and the Michael Dease Big Band.

The band opens with the title tune. It’s a Jason Hainsworth arrangement that opens with the sound of a familiar practice scale, before blossoming into a melodic masterpiece.  The solo guitar of Randy Napoleon is warm and emotional.  David Sneider brings his trumpet solo to the party, infusing “The Sleeper” title tune with energy and excitement.

In walks the blues on a Gregg Hill composition called “Aftershock.”  This piece was arranged by Bill Cunliffe Jr. and features an outstanding bass solo by Rodney Whitaker, who appears as a special guest.  He and iconic trumpeter, Dr. Eddie Henderson create a musical conversation that is quite engaging.  The band swings harder than a Muhammed Ali punch!

Each of these awesome original compositions by Greg Hill are arranged and presented by The Michael Dease Big Band in stunning ways.  “La Canción” features a blanket of harmonic horn lines with the Latin drums of Dr. Colleen Clark and various percussion players pushing the groove forward.  The ending of this Altin Sencalar arrangement is dynamic.

“It’s the teamwork and collective vision aspect of big band playing that energizes me,” enthused Michael Dease in his liner notes.

The teamwork continues on the Gregg Hill composition with the cute title of “Mr. Peas is Welcomed to the Pod.”  It’s a Matt White arrangement that features contrasting horn lines that create motion and movement.  Overlapping waves of harmony splash into my ears. Then, Michael Dease solos with his unique trombone voice sounding so human. They say the trombone is the closest instrument to the voice. Certainly, Dease’s interpretation supports that opinion.  I was also quite impressed by the woodwind solo of Rudresh Mahanthappa.  Masterful!

“Betty’s tune blasts onto the set like a 5-alarm fire.  David Gibson arranged it to get our attention.  Zach Sommerfeld’s guitar is king and Sharel Cassity’s sax solo is inspired! Dr. Colleen Clark is given space to show off her drum skills during solo moments.

Every tune, each arrangement and the entire Michael Dease Big Band entertains me nonstop on this new release.  It is rare to hear a big band with so many expert players a part of it.  I could not stop writing about how wonderful this project is.

 MICHAEL DEASE BIG BAND: RHYTHM SECTION & SPECIAL GUESTS: Virginia MacDonald, clarinet; Dr. Eddie Henderson, trumpet; Miki Hayama, piano; Langston Kitchen, bass; Dr. Colleen Clark, drums; Randy Napoleon, guitar; Owen Dease & Kevin Jones, percussion; Jalen Baker, vibraphone; Tommy Noble, flute/clarinet; Zach Sommerfeld, guitar; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Jack Covert, Ben Covert, Lois Mummaw & Gregg Hill (composer) featured on Track ten. SAXOPHONES: Sharel Cassity, alto & soprano saxophones; Rudresh Mahanthappa, tenor & alto saxes/clarinet; Jason Hainsworth & Kirk MacDonald, tenor sax/clarinet; Clark Gibson, baritone sax/clarinet. TROMBONES: Michael Dease, trombone/baritone saxophone; Wycliffe Gordon, Aidan Clark, Ken Thompkins, & Nanami Haruta, trombones; Pablo Muller Santiago, bass trombone. TRUMPETS:  Nathaniel Williford, Reene McGee, Matt White & David Sneider.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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