A Song of/for Peace

 

Been listening a lot to "The New Day Bends Light", the self-released debut album of the Erica Seguine/Shon Baker Orchestra. The two leaders (Ms. Seguine is composer, arranger, and conductor while Shon Baker also composers and plays alto and soprano saxophones) formed the 21-member ensemble in 2011. They played intermittently in clubs around New York City and its environs.  They entered the recording studio in late August of 2019 with producer Darcy James Argue––the album was originally scheduled to be released in mid-2021 but it's taken until this year for the music to be released. 

There's plenty of great music over the course of seven tracks and 66 minutes. A look at the personnel listed below will yield a number of familiar names but the focus should be on the music the two leaders have created for their Orchestra.  One can hear the influence of Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Maria Schneider, Carla Bley, and others in the arrangements. The original material is top-notch, the soloists stand out, and the sublime voice of Israeli-born vocalist Tammy Scheffer is a brilliant addition.  She shines on "Ose Shalom", Nurit Hirsch's adaptation of the final verse of the Kaddish, a prayer recited by Jews throughout the world during the service and as the "Mourner's Kaddish". The words––"He who makes peace in his high places/He shall make peace upon us/And upon all Israel/And let us say Amen"––do not speak of death but are spoken to help bring comfort to the mourner and the community.  

Listen below then go to https://ericaseguineshonbakerorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-day-bends-light and check the other tracks.  This is music that will resonate with you long after the tracks end.

To find out more about the Orchestra, go to www.essbjo.com/about. 

Here's "Ose Shalom"

Personnel:

Erica Seguine - composer, arranger (1, 3, 5, 6), conductor
Shon Baker - composer (2, 4, 7), alto saxophone, soprano saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)

Ben Kono- alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
Remy Le Boeuf- alto saxophone, flute, alto flute, piccolo, clarinet (tracks 1-5, 7)
Peter Hess- tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Quinsin Nachoff- tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
Andrew Hadro- baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flute

Nathan Eklund- trumpet, flugelhorn
John Lake- trumpet, flugelhorn
Jonathan Saraga- trumpet, flugelhorn
Adam Horowitz- trumpet, flugelhorn

Scott Reeves- trombone, alto flugelhorn
Nick Grinder- trombone
Kalia Vandever- trombone
Becca Patterson- bass trombone, tuba

Meg Okura- violin, electric violin (tracks 1, 3-6)
Tammy Scheffer- voice (tracks 2, 5-7)
Eric Burns- guitar
Carmen Staaf- piano
Evan Gregor- bass
Paolo Cantarella- drums