Chasing Horizons

Fred Forney's second release as a leader, Chasing Horizons features a set of original compositions that keep with the traditions of jazz while making it all sound new and interesting. A long-time Arizona resident, Forney is the Director of Jazz Studies at Mesa Community College and has been involved with numerous recording projects in Phoenix metropolitan area. Forney leads a quartet of top-notch musicians through his compositions and treats them as equal partners, rather than constantly stealing the solo spotlight. He plays with a luxuriously rich sound and shows off a keen ability to state his ideas expressively and clearly. Each composition has a story that influenced it. "Nearly Human" depicts his yellow Lab, aptly named "Miles;" "Astoria" represents the unforgettable and majestic landscape of Oregon; and "Chasing Horizons" is dedicated to his students and to the first jazz record with which he fell in love as a kid, Freddie Hubbard's First Light. The quintet is a tight, cohesive group stabilized by Dwight Kilian on bass, and Dom Moio on drums and enhanced bu Chuck Marohnic's piano comping and by Brice Winston's passionate saxophone solos. Forney's trumpet playing is exemplary and illustrates why he is such an in-demand player in the Phoenix area. Chasing Horizons is a superb release of original jazz compositions and marvelous soloing, and jazz fans are sure to enjoy it.