...Some of the most interesting, original music coming from anybody in a long, long time.
Composer/trombonist Doug Scarborough presents a compelling collection of new works, fusing music of the West - jazz, with overtones of classical and prog rock - and traditional Middle Eastern elements. Setting the stage with his 2015 release Bridges, where he introduced the trombone to the world as an instrument capable of expressively playing Arabic scales (maqamat), The Color of Angels is a riveting follow-up as he retains the dynamic core of collaborators, Jeremy Siskind on piano, bassist Damian Erskine, and engineer/producer Bob Stark, while adding the distinct voices of violin virtuoso Akram Abdulfattah, Mustafa Boztüy on darbuka and the dynamic drummer, Reinhardt Melz. Possibly reminiscent of some recent projects by Nate Smith, Ibrahim Maalouf, or bassist Avishai Cohen, Scarborough's musical vision is exciting, surprising and cinematic in scope.
Track Listing:
1. The Color of Angels 3:36
2. Limitless 5:17
3. Mosaic 5:29
4. Tinder and Spark 7:15
5. You Are Brave Enough 6:24
6. Imaginal Cells 6:42
7. The Everything 4:33
8. Arabesque 6:25
9. The Source of the Longest River 6:00
All music by Doug Scarborough
Performers:
Doug Scarborough - trombone
Akram Abdulfattah - violin
Jeremy Siskind - piano
Damian Erskine - bass
Mustafa Boztüy - darbuka
Reinhardt Melz - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Bob Stark & Doug Scarborough
Recorded by Bob Stark
at Crossroads Productions, Vancouver, WA
August 10-18, 2021
Additional recording by Michael Simon
at Coffee Ring Studios, Walla Walla, WA
Mastered by Nick Moon
at Tone Proper, Portland, OR
Art by Oleg Znamenskiy
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of The Color of Angels
All About Jazz (Jack Bowers)
4-STARS The Color of Angels, an engaging album by trombonist Doug Scarborough's sextet, blends music with a jazz heart and Middle Eastern temperament. Scarborough, who teaches at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, has worked toward expanding the jazz idiom to encompass rhythms and harmonies from countries and regions not usually associate ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
RINGER OF THE WEEK Glorious musical journeys to far a way lands both acoustic and electric are delivered by trombonist Doug Scarborough and his wide ranging team of violinist Akram Abdulfattah, pianist Jeremy Siskind, bassist Damian Erskine, drummer Reinhardt Melz and Mustafa Boztuy on the hand percussive darbuka. The themes range widely, going f ...
Take Effect (Tom Haugen)
The always impressive Doug Scarborough returns with a new batch of jazz tunes, and he's got Akram Abdulfattah, Jeremy Siskind, Damian Erskine, Mustafa Boztuy and Reinhardt Melz along for the ride.
The title track opens the listen with swift keys from Siskind, as Scarborough's bright brass and Melz's frisky drumming guide the timeless jazz clima ...