Jazz History Online – Zodiac Suite

29-11-2023 Jazz History Online

extraits :

“At Town Hall, “Scorpio” was played by the rhythm section with isolated interjections by horn soloists. It is marked by a recurring boogie figure. The orchestration adds another level of mystery to the piece, with moody ensemble and solo episodes. The wind scoring in the boogie section is quite inventive, with rich colors emerging among the typical Hollywood/Broadway string voicings. It’s a tough choice between the two new versions, but I’m going with Umlaut again for the ensemble, and the very airy recording. “Sagittarius” sounds like the light pastoral movement of a classical woodwind quintet. Umlaut’s relaxed reading gives it the advantage again. ” Thomas Cunniffe