Aug 26-Sept2, 2004
Alan Matheson Nonet
Intrada
It took him more than decade, but Vancouver horn player-arranger-bandleader Alan Matheson finally has a recording of the band he has led for so many years.
The 12-track Intrada features Matheson's band - which began as a septet and eventually expanded to become a nine-piece - recorded at four studio sessions since 1993.
The second track, 'Jackson Square,' has Craig Scott performing some neat snare and bass-drum licks to get things going, with the band jumping in energetically, then falling away at the end so that David Branter's soprano sax solo has only bass and drums accompaniment.
Branter unleashes a powerful tenor solo on 'Sisu', which has a hard-bop tempo. Russ Botten plays a fleet-fingered bass solo on the 6/8 pulsed 'Allegro', and Julia Nolan's soprano sax holds the floor on 'Blues', which features outstanding piano accompaniment from Matheson, trading brass for keys on this track.
The title tune is one of the CD's best, the band performing with a driving rhythm and trombonist Rob McKenzie, cornetist Matheson and soprano saxophonist Nolan turning in outstanding solos.
The Alan Matheson Nonet plays the Cellar Saturday night.
- Marke Andrews
Rating: *** (3 stars)
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