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| Composer-Arranger Jon Schapiro’s Latest Summit Recording "Human Qualities" Composer-arranger Jon Schapiro's latest Summit recording with his 17-piece big band features seven colorful and swinging originals plus his transformation of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Schapiro17, an all-star big band, features such notable soloists as trumpeters Eddie Allen and Andy Gravish, saxophonists Rob Wilkerson, Matt Hong, Paul Carlon, and Rob Middleton, pianist Roberta Piket, guitarist Sebastian Noelle, and all four trombonists, along with many stirring ensembles. Artist: SCHAPIRO17 Title: HUMAN QUALITIES Artist Website: Schapiro17.com Record Label Website: www.summitrecords.com Release Date: March 12, 2021 Label: Summit Records Catalog Number: SMT-775 UPC Code: 099402775920 Track listing 1. Count Me Out (Jon Schapiro) 8:21 2. Tango (Jon Schapiro) 7:53 3. Hmmm (Jon Schapiro) 10:05 4. The First Time Ever I saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl) 9:56 5. Human Qualities (Jon Schapiro) 11:09 6. Hallelujah (Jon Schapiro) 11:39 7. A Bounce in Her Step (Jon Schapiro) 5:20 8. House Money (Jon Schapiro) 6:02 TOTAL CD TIME: 71 minutes Musicians: trumpets: Bryan Davis, Andy Gravish, Eddie Allen, Noyes Bartholomew; trombones: Alex Jeun, Deborah Weisz, Nick Grinder, Walter Harris; saxophones: Rob Wilkerson, Candace DeBartolo, Paul Carlon, Rob Middleton, Matt Hong; piano: Roberta Piket; guitar: Sebastian Noelle; bass: Evan Gregor; drums: Jon Wikan Schapiro17's debut recording, New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60, consisted of reworkings of the five selections from Miles Davis' Kind of Blue plus seven of the leader's originals. A year later, Human Qualities builds upon the earlier album's success with seven new Schapiro compositions plus a fresh rendition of a classic ballad. Jon Schapiro's consistently surprising arrangements keep one guessing and inspire his sidemen to play at their most inventive. Human Qualities covers a wide area of creative jazz. The opener, "Count Me Out, " begins with the orchestra sounding a bit like Count Basie's, at least until the arrangement becomes much more modern during Rob Middleton's tenor solo, followed by adventurous spots for trombonist Deborah Weisz and pianist Roberta Piket. "Tango" is a showcase for the fluent baritonist Matt Hong, whose playing over an implied tango strut and some stormy ensembles is quite admirable. "Hmmm" has the full group swinging in a modern fashion. The driving piece builds and builds, fueled by hot solos from trumpeter Andy Gravish and Paul Carlon on tenor. The Roberta Flack hit, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" has a particularly dark arrangement by Schapiro that contrasts with the bright trumpet voice of Eddie Allen, whose playing symbolically offers a beacon of hope. On "Human Qualities, " Schapiro's writing has the ensemble engaging in a bit of counterpoint. Altoist Rob Wilkerson and trombonist Nick Grinder make powerful statements and then trade off with their own counterpoint during the often-dense and unpredictable arrangement. A futuristic dirge, "Hallelujah, " includes highly expressive solos from Carlon's tenor and guitarist Sebastian Noelle. "A Bounce in Her Step" is filled with rhythmic phrases from the bebop era while being harmonically advanced; trombonist Walter Harris and altoist Rob Wilkerson are the solo stars. "House Money" concludes the memorable set with a deep second-line New Orleans groove from drummer Jon Wikan, and the rambunctious trombone of Alex Jeun. Jon Schapiro is an original and daring composer-arranger. He graduated from Brown University, earned a Master's from the Manhattan School of Music, and studied at NYU with Jim McNeely and Dinu Ghezzo. Schapiro is a professor at Yeshiva University and was a member of the BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop. In 2012 he formed Schapiro17 as a vehicle for his innovative writing and as a way to showcase some of New York's top musicians. Their recording of New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60, along with the band's pre-pandemic appearances in New York clubs (including ShapeShifter), gave Schapiro17 quite a bit of attention. Now with the release of Human Qualities, their second recording for the Summit label, Schapiro17 is taking its place as one of the top modern jazz big bands on the scene today. write your comments about the article :: © 2021 Jazz News :: home page |