Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill

Clearly in 2024, Michael Dease is on all fronts. No sooner had his masterful *Grove's Groove* been released—where he swapped the trombone for the baritone saxophone—than by September, you'll find him back on the trombone for the incredible and excellent *Found In Space: The Music Of Gregg Hill*, once again condemning us to the excellence of his artistic vision. A master of arrangements, he honors this great composer, and interestingly, he's joined by a selection of the most talented musicians: Sharel Cassity - flute, alto sax (3), Virginia MacDonald - clarinet, Rudresh Mahanthappa - alto sax, Jason Hainsworth - tenor sax, Matt White - trumpet, Michael Dease - trombone, bari sax, Nanami Haruta - trombone, Bill Cunliffe - piano, Rhodes, Katie Thiroux - bass, Colleen Clark - drums, Gwendolyn Dease - marimba, percussion, Gregg Hill - compositions & producer. You'll likely need to listen to this album multiple times to let the surprise effect wear off and then enjoy it leisurely.

We never tire of reminding that Dease honed his craft with trombone legends Wycliffe Gordon and Joseph Alessi. His collaborations span the entire spectrum of musical experience: Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Elton John, Neal Diamond, Illinois Jacquet, Slide Hampton & The World of Trombones, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, the WDR Big Band, George Gruntz, Billy Harper. Today, he's one of the most prominent jazz musicians in the USA, quickly making a name for himself through his compositions, arrangements, and melodic sensibility. The way Dease makes the instruments sound is indeed quite exceptional. By surrounding himself with these extraordinary artists, he offers complex compositions in a perfectly digestible form across very different styles. One could say that Michael Dease is among the top three trombonists today, alongside Trombone Shorty, or in Europe, the extraordinary Nils Landgren, known for his Funk Unit.

What makes this new album so great are both the musical arrangements and the performances. If we compare it to Gregg Hill's albums, Dease modernizes the style significantly, energizes it, and gives it a new dimension. He skillfully handles both the most lively and the most poetic pieces. *Anthem* is probably the most impressive track on this album. It takes time to listen to it deeply and appreciate the universe it conveys. If you invest in Michael Dease's two albums, it will certainly be the best way to understand his personality as a musician, understanding that the baritone saxophone and the trombone are complementary instruments for him. The sounds one can produce that the other cannot, and the way he transposes the intention he gives to each instrument while always striving to perfect the tones and melodies, Michael Dease is an impressive musician, a true genius in his versatility. And I am certain that with him, we have yet to see the last of the surprises. For us, this album will be the second of Michael Dease's to find its way onto our 'Indispensable' albums list.