New Amsterdam Records is excited to celebrate the release of All Can Work, the third album from drummer/composer John Hollenbeck and his 20-piece Large Ensemble. The album has received much praise in anticipation for its release, including from Downbeat Magazine, which called it "an album of awe-inspiring majesty." In additional, National Sawdust Logis featuring an exclusive stream of "The Model," Hollenbeck's take on the Kraftwerk song, and the album was also included in New Sounds' recent episode on Music for Big Bands.
The album follows the band's Grammy-nominated releases A Blessing (2005) and eternal interlude (2009), and pays tribute to the Large Ensemble's late trumpet player Laurie Frink, a key force in the group and the jazz community. The album title is from an email exchange between Frink and Hollenbeck; the phrase epitomizes the flexible, optimistic resolve that is needed by everyone involved to create a record such as this one.After Laurie Frink's passing, Hollenbeck read all of her emails and compiled them in chronological order, finding poetry and inspiration in her words. Acclaimed vocalist Theo Bleckmann brings Frink's words to life in the lyrics of the title track "All Can Work." The composition of the piece is based on one of Frink's teaching exercises.
All Can Work represents the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble's accumulation of years rehearsing, recording and performing together since its founding in 1998 - the definitive evolution of an exceptional ensemble that has developed a relationship akin to family (some members of which Hollenbeck has been playing with since high school and college). The album also pays tribute to artists who have influenced Hollenbeck most throughout the years: Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Strayhorn, John Taylor, William Shakespeare, and Piet Mondrian.
All Can Work Tracklisting:
1. lud
2. All Can Work STREAM EXCERPT
3. Elf
4. Heyoke
5. this kiss
6. from trees
7. Long Swing Dream
8. The Model STREAM TRACK
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble personnel:
Ben Kono soprano/alto/tenor sax, flute
Jeremy Viner clarinet, tenor sax
Tony Malaby tenor/soprano sax on 3, 6
Dan Willis tenor sax, clarinet
Anna Webber flute, tenor sax on 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8
Bohdan Hilash clarinet, bass clarinet, bass sax, tubax
Mark Patterson trombone
Mike Christianson trombone
Jacob Garchik trombone, euphonium on 8
Alan Ferber trombone on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Jeff Nelson trombone on 1, 7, 8
Tony Kadleck trumpet, flugelhorn
Jon Owens trumpet, flugelhorn
Dave Ballou trumpet, flugelhorn
Matt Holman trumpet, flugelhorn
Chris Tordini acoustic, electric bass
Matt Mitchell piano, organ, keyboard
Patricia Brennan vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel
John Hollenbeck drums, composition
Theo Bleckmann voice
JC Sanford conductor
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