Rathbun's lines dance and glide, reflecting both childlike wonder and well-honed artistry.
The Jazz faculty that Western Michigan University quietly assembled over the years is an impressive collection of internationally significant artists. Having gathered in Kalamazoo from their bases in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, the teaching colleagues became bandmates with the formation of the Western Jazz Collective, and Dark Journey reveals the magic when time, place and happenstance collide. Offering new views into the music of saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun, the septet of Rathbun, trumpeter Scott Cowan, guitarist Matt Landon, pianist Matthew Fries, bassist John Hébert, and drummer Keith Hall, along with the special vocalese contributions of Greg Jasperse, unveil expansive musical landscapes, rich in nuance, dynamics and texture.
"...Rathbun deserves to be ranked among today's top arrangers/composers."
JAZZIZ
Track Listing:
1 Making No Sense 12:30
2 Infinite Being 9:03
3 National Nightmare 5:53
4 Different Directions 6:24
5 February First 10:08
6 Longer Wait 9:19
7 Echoes 9:24
8 Line 4:53
9 Reading the Exits 7:30
All compositions by Andrew Rathbun (Broatchmusic, SOCAN)
Performers:
Western Jazz Collective is:
Greg Jasperse - voice
Scott Cowan - trumpet
Andrew Rathbun - soprano & tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, WX7
Matt Landon - guitar
Matthew Fries - acoustic & electric piano
John Hébert - bass
Keith Hall - drums
special guest: Kevin "Bujo" Jones - percussion
Production Info:
Produced by Andrew Rathbun
Recorded by Ian Gorman
at La Luna Studios, Kalamazoo, MI
Nov. 18-19, 2021
Mixed & mastered by Michael Marciano
at Systems Two, New York
Photos by Casey Spring
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun
Paris-Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
"A MUST / INDISPENSABLE!" As always, it is good to know the origin of a group of musicians, especially when the impressive album is a beautiful discovery aimed at a city-dwelling and somewhat intellectual audience. The jazz faculty that Western Michigan University has quietly assembled over the years is an impressive collection of internationally r ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Subtitled "The Music of Andrew Rathburn", this album brings together a collection of musical journeys by composer, reed man and band member Andrew Rathbun, played alongside Scott Cowan/tp, Greg Jasperse/voc, Matt Landon/g, Matthew Fries/p, John Hebert/b, Keith Hall/dr and guest Kevin Jones/perc. The 9 pieces have a wide range of moods, with each so ...
