With a career spanning twenty-plus years of innovative and breathtaking creative ventures, it should come as little surprise that pianist Orrin Evans has surprised audiences again. Originally a traditional 17 piece big band, the band has evolved to a truncated 9 piece version, but it is not lacking in power by any means This fourth release of the Captain Black Big Band is full of their trademark energy that has captivated fans of Evans and the band for over a decade now.
The Intangible Between explores the concept of taking chances and not being afraid to leave it all on the bandstand. To be honest, it seems Evans himself has always done this and that this is not new territory for him, but for him to say that sometimes he wished he had gone for an idea was surprising! On this go, one can tell he is consciously not holding back in every sense of the word, and it is a battle cry that is resoundingly taken up by his bandmates.
Evans further embraces this idea with his debut appearance as an arranger for the band on this record date. The arrangements are full of creativity and are perfectly arranged for his ten-piece band as one can hear in his arrangement of Andrew Hill’s Tough Love where a poem written by his friend John “Doc” Holiday opens the song and later Evans narrates another poem written by his brother Todd Evans, (a.k.a Son of Black) all while playing the piano. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Evans pulls this masterpiece off effectively and is definitely one of the finest works on this album which is Mingus like in sound and spirit. He is also joined by trumpeter Josh Lawrence, who’s tune Proclaim Liberty starts the listener on this spiritual journey, saxophonist Todd Bashore adds a beautiful arrangement of A Time for Love, trombonist David Gibson honors the late great Roy Hargrove in his arrangement of Into Dawn, and co-arranger Marc Stasio who helps arrange Harry Dixon Loes’ This Little Light of Mine.
The band is comprised of Todd Bashore, Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Immanuel Wilkins, and alto/soprano saxophone, Troy Roberts and Stacy Dillard on tenor/soprano saxophone, Josh Lawrence, Sean Jones, and Thomas Marriott on trumpet, David Gibson, Stafford Hunter, and Reggie Watkins on trombones (Reggie Watkins also on Fenders), Joseph Block on fender Rhodes, Luques Curtis, Eric Revis, Madison Rast, and Dylan Reis on bass, and Anwar Marshall, Jason Brown, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. Generally arranged for 9-10 horns, the ensemble expands at the call of the arrangement and achieves a flawless balance in every instance. The band truly enjoys the best of both the small group world and big band world in this configuration, being able to listen closely to one another and still produce the power and energy of a full big band. And the record has no shortage of amazing soloists… from the upcoming young lion Immanuel Wilkins to veterans such as Stacy Dillard, Sean Jones, and Evans himself, the listener will be enjoying some amazing playing from so many different artists. Always willing to share the spotlight, every band member truly gets their moment to shine in the Captain Black Big Band, and no one holds back.
Perhaps some of the inspiration behind this no holds bar theme of the album, has to do with the loss of two people not only close to Evans but to the entire jazz community. The first is the late great Roy Hargrove who passed in November of 2018. As mentioned before it is arranged by David Gibson, who performed with Hargrove’s Big Band and the influences of this tenure are clear in his arrangement. While it honors the passing of this master one feels it is more a celebration of his life and the legacy he left behind. This spirit is also carried over in the final tune of the album, I’m so glad I got to know you, written by Evans himself for Lawrence Lo’ Leathers, a wonderful drummer with a brilliant career that was on the rise, which was cut tragically short last year. This song has a feeling of a church prayer that is triumphant and uplifting as Evans reflects on the moments with Leathers. The song ends with the chant “I’m so glad I got to know you” repeated as it fades out, much in the spirit of another great Orrin Evans tune Easy Now. The two fallen great of jazz will truly live on even more with these beautiful and heartfelt tributes.
Orrin and his bandmates truly left it all out there in the studio when they recorded this masterpiece. The Intangible Between is full of risk-taking excitement that leaves listeners on the edge of their seats. Just as the Captain Black Big Band gives their all, we must savor every moment of their moments of creativity, applaud the fact they choose to express themselves despite the vulnerability that creating art is, and give ourselves to each moment uninhibited.
The Intangible Between is released today. For further information please visit http://orrinevansmusic.com/
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