Chasing Shadows and catching dreams!
Jon Pierre Le Maines | Seattle, WA | 07/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The editorial review says it all. This has got to be Pearl Django's best album! When the Seattle newspapers noted the death of co-founder Dudley Hill, I had assumed this group might simply try to re-create the same Pearl Django sound, as represented on their recent recordings. The last two albums are notable for their uplifting swing, and light hot club touch, and they are fine additions to anyone's collection. However, with this new release, Pearl Django wisely does not seek to recapture the past but has moved on to create music of more depth and complexity. If Dudley's absense represents a loss of the band's natural connection to the "american swing" tradition, as it assuredly does, then the listener cannot but note, and commend these musicians for, their new and unabashed embrace of a darker, eclectic sound, that is essentially more european based. This music is urbane, musically mature, and beautifully crafted. While the editorial review notes the incredibly strong contributions of accordianist David Lange and guitarist Patrick Saussois, it needs to be mentioned that this is also the strongest album for the band-members themselves - primary soloists Neil Andersson and Michael Gray have never sounded better nor more in-command of their respective crafts. Greg Ruby is finally given his due presence on this album and his contributions shine. Bassist Rick Leppanen has a strong presence throughout; it seems the engineer has found a way to record the full spectrum of sound of the bass in all of its subtlety and, because Rick can now be heard more clearly, it must be said that he is obviously one of the most-swinging-est bassist in jazz today. However, Chasing Shadows is far more than a collection of great material and superb solos - it represents Pearl Django as one of the greatest ensemble groups of our time: in short, their arrangements are absolutely beautiful, with performances all beautifully realized. I do not pretend to know what accounts for this new-found level of maturity and mastery, whether or not this depth is in part a result and reaction to the untimely death of Dudley Hill. But I do know I can recommend this album to others whole-heartedly and unreservedly. - Jon"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1