Featured Artist: Bobby Zankel & the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound

CD Title: Ceremonies of Forgiveness

Year: 2006

Record Label: Dreambox Media

Style: Contemporary Jazz

Musicians:

Tom Lawton (piano),  Dylan Taylor (bass),  Craig McIver (drums), Rick Iannacone (guitar), John Swana, Patrick Hughes, Bart Miltenberger (trumpets), Larry Toft, Dave Champion (trombones), Bobby Zankel, Daniel Peterson (alto saxophone),  Elliot Levin (saxophone and flute),  Brian Rodgers (tenor saxophone), Dan Scofield (baritone saxophone)

Review:

Enkindled by the wonderful sound of a Buddhist’s mission, alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel formed the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound and released a luxuriant and painlessly recognized fourteen-piece band which includes five horns and four saxophones.

Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound forge something interesting here. The repertoire across the album consists of seven compositions. Each piece is a trampoline from which to cook up, untied by the curb of chord changes or a need to serve up the melodies. On the first opus track “Choose Hope (for Nelson Mandela),” Bobby Zankel, Larry Toft, Dylan Taylor promenade the ensemble into euphonic/inventive territories.

At times a bow utterance will be played in unison by John Swana, Patrick Hughes, Bart Miltenberger and saxophonist Gary Bartz, with the rest of the band quilting in on the harmonized progression and the melodic phrase.

This piece of art sets appropriate elements from the contemporary, visiting groovy/Latin sounds in amalgam with traditional jazz. The music is coherent and not futile. This music is an extension of what Zankel himself had been breeding in his mind. It’s essentially a great “group format” band, plus their performance has complicated lines which eventually dare other boundaries on the formal structure.

 

Ceremonies of Forgiveness is all about expression of complex emotions and a quest rather than a summons.

Tracks:

Choose Hope,  Ndura - The Forest is our Father and Mother: Part 1, Ndura - The Forest is our Father and Mother: Part 2, Infinite Potential of a Single Moment: Part 1, Infinite Potential of a Single Moment: Part 2, Ceremonies of Forgiveness: Part 1, Ceremonies of Forgiveness: Part 2

 

Record Label Website: http://www.dreamboxmedia.com

Reviewed by: Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez

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