At the center of the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly, you will find the adventurous music of composers David Schumacher and JC Sanford. Their sense of sound and timing help drive one of the most intoxicating new forces in contemporary jazz orchestration ensembles, leading a 17-piece orchestra filled with some of New York’s finest players.
It may seem like big, daunting stuff and in many ways it certainly is. The Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly fits in a small tradition of jazz orchestras helmed by two conductors and composers, with perhaps the Jeter-Pillars, Coon-Sanders, and Sauter-Finnegan outfits being the only ones that come to mind.
Nevertheless, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly has forged a brave set of numbers with Edge of the Mind, the next step in the journey of the eight-year-old cooperative effort.
The record is thick, exciting, haunting, and frequently audacious. By juxtaposing a swing-rooted method with a broader conception of orchestral sound based on the theory of composer George Russell, this outfit has created something special.
Featuring musicians like drummer John Hollenbeck, pianist Deanna Witkowski, guitarist Andrew Green, saxophonist Chris Bacas, alto and soprano saxophonist Dan Willis, amongst many others, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly’s pedigree is etched in the stone of the New York jazz and new music scene.
The horned swell of “Breaking Point,” composed by Schumacher, pushes and pulls with urgency. “The title is descriptive of taking a small amount of material and pushing it to its limit or breaking point,” Schumacher explains. The cut is accented by a downright deadly bit of guitar from Green.
“Edge of the Window,” another Schumacher composition, lays out an even-eighth-note feel. The track feels like it belongs in an intimate jazz club, yet the densely-packed chords draw out the larger scale of the orchestra.
Sanford’s “Chuck n’ Jinx” is a mischievous little tune written for his stepfather and his cat. It bounces merrily but contains rather difficult harmonies, outlining the complexity of the Sanford composition with some delightful percussion and a beautiful set of solos. Another Sanford track, “Rhythm of the Mind,” finds the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly setting a sweet groove with horns.
“Co-leading a band is a delicate balance between my own voice and the voices of the players,” says Schumacher. With Edge of the Mind, it’s safe to say that the delicate balance works excitingly and each individual player brings something gripping to the table. This is a natural and organic record, brimming with intricate arrangements yet highlighted with an unexpected sense of impulsiveness.
You can purchase Edge of the Mind online at Beauport Jazz or on iTunes.
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