BALANCING ACT by Mike Holober & Balancing Act
"In putting together the titular octet for this project, Holober brought together some of the most remarkable personalities on the scene today—singular artists like vocalist Kate McGarry, drummer Brian Blade, and saxophonist Dick Oatts. Every member of this band is a potential scene-stealer, and each has a chance to shine at various points throughout the album, but this remains a group statement. Holober's guidance and multi-hued compositions allow this ensemble to speak, flow, and flourish as one.
The program consists of five Holober originals of varying vintage and style, including the perceptive "Book Of Sighs," metaphorically-motivated "Grace At Sea," and Brazilian-tinged "When There Were Trains"; a contribution from multireedist Jason Rigby—the slick groove workout "Idris"—which gives a nod in name and spirit to the late Idris Muhammad; and two covers from outside of the jazz milieu—a stargazing take on Billy Joel's "Lullabye: Goodnight My Angel" and a version of "Piece Of My Heart" that's worlds away, both sonically and spiritually, from Janis Joplin's famed rendition."
Dan Bilawsky, “Mike Holober: Balancing Act (2015), All About Jazz October 14, 2015 ****1/2
Tracklist
Credits
Recorded April 21-22, Sear Sound NYC
Released Palmetto, 2015
All compositions by Mike Holober except Lullabye: Goodnight My Angel (Billy Joel), Piece of My Heart (Jerry Ragavoy), and Idris (Jason Rigby).
PRINT SCORES & PARTS AVAILABLE
Mike Holober (piano/composer), Kate McGarry (voice); Marvin Stamm (trumpet); Dick Oatts (alto and soprano saxophones, flute); Jason Rigby (tenor saxophone and bass clarinet); Mark Patterson (trombone); John Hebert (bass); Brian Blade (drums)
Recording Engineer: James Farber
Mix: Brian Mongomery
Photos/Design: Colleen Chrzanowski
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Recipient of the American Academy of Arts & Letters Andrew Imbrie Award for Music, and nominated for a 2020 GRAMMY®Award for his critically acclaimed CD “Hiding Out,” Mike Holober has been described as “one of the finest modern composer/arrangers of our time” (Downbeat Magazine). Other recent projects include Balancing Act (a jazz octet with voice), and The Mike Holober/Marvin Stamm Quartet.