From bar one, Hanson's superior writing and orchestration skills—and this band's joie de Bop—jump out at you like an IMAX 3D screen gem.
After decades as an in-demand composer/arranger, and a co-leader of Denver's acclaimed H2 Big Band, pianist Dave Hanson took his 2024 week-long Artist in Residence at Denver's Dazzle Jazz club to put focus on his piano playing and his small group arranging, resulting in this debut quartet recording. With saxophonist Wil Swindler, bassist Mark Simon, and drummer Paul Romaine, Hanson pays tribute to a melting pot of towering American music innovators through this set of ten wide-ranging originals. Through the brightly swinging "Two Masters" for Bill Evans & Chick Corea, to the shuffle of "Blues Sky" for Jimi Hendrix, and the boogaloo refrain of "Dylan Dream" for Bob Dylan, Hanson's band is dynamic and inspired.
"...a supremely swinging, gloriously arranged and performed feast." All About Jazz
Track Listing:
1 Two Masters 5:12
2 Across That Bridge 7:17
3 June 16 5:22
4 Ambrosian 6:44
5 Arnhem 5:59
6 As It Was and Is 3:11
7 Blues Sky 5:36
8 Cross Steps 8:01
9 Dylan Dream 6:54
10 Muse Walk 4:42
All music composed by Dave Hanson
Kakeda Music (ASCAP)
Performers:
Wil Swindler - alto & tenor saxophones
Dave Hanson - piano & Fender Rhodes
Mark Simon - acoustic & electric bass
Paul Romaine - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Dave Hanson
Recording, mixed & mastered by Colin Bricker
in Denver, CO at Mighty Fine Productions & Dazzle Denver
February 22 & May 10, 2024
Band photo by Loren Dorland
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Blues Sky
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
If you are drawn to albums that immediately immerse you in a refined, poetic atmosphere, this one is for you. It stems from a particularly captivating artistic approach, during his week-long residency at the Dazzle Jazz Club in Denver in 2024, Dave Hanson took the opportunity to highlight both his piano playing and his arrangements for a small ense ...
All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan)
Pianist Dave Hanson opens his Blues Sky with a joyful barnburner, "Two Masters," a tip of the hat to Bill Evans and Chick Corea, two of the biggest names in piano jazz. Hanson is probably best known for his work as composer-arranger and co-leader of Denver's H2 Big Band, but he pares things down on his Blues Sky album release, thanks in part to a w ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Dave Hanson plays piano and Fender with his team of Mark Simon/b, Paul Romaine/dr and guest Wil Swindler/ts-as on this collection of bluesy originals. On piano, Hanson has that classic warm feel a la Kenny Barron, as he shifts gears on the post bopping "Arnhem" and is lyrically stately around Romaine's brushes during "As It Was And Is", niftily ve ...
Marlbank (UK) (Stephen Graham)
Good looking cover artwork for a change – so many albums (just take a peek in the direction of Bandcamp and you'll see what I mean) look like a dog's dinner. Not this. And the sound matches the quality look.
Recorded in a Denver studio last year newly out from US pianist Dave Hanson and his small combo fronted by sax it's an album of the piani ...
Jazz'halo (Belgium) (Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther)
All About Jazz reads: "After decades as an in-demand composer/arranger, and a co-leader of Denver's acclaimed H2 Big Band, pianist Dave Hanson took his 2024 week-long Artist in Residence at Denver's Dazzle Jazz club to put focus on his piano playing and his small group arranging, resulting in this debut quartet recording. With saxophonist Wil Swind ...
