Matt Lavelle’s 12 Houses: Solidarity

By ALBERTO BAZZURRO – allaboutjazz.com

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1970, previously alongside William Parker and being responsible for the rebirth of a genuine original, Giuseppi Logan, a few years ago , Matt Lavelle directs the 12 Houses, an important work, recorded in November 2014, featuring an ensemble of sixteen elements expressing, in the first instance, a vaguely Mingus-like approach (all Lavelle compositions) staring with a rather excited and consequential tenor sax solo. Soon after, however, comes an exquisite chamber interlude with flute/vibes/arco bass that disrupts the our initial expectations.

It goes something like this for the entire disk, including crescendo and decrescendo, a new tenor solo on which the orchestral is vehemently grafted intermittently (Brooklyn Mountain), then the voice, though cooking on quite a different temperature, is articulate and full of purpose  (Knee Braces). This is reiterated by the excellent violin solo that follows and lies on flexible yet calibrated orchestral strokes.

The director  Lavelle becomes the main actor in “Cherry Swing,” followed by banjo spice, an important element throughout the entire album, and bassoon, in short, which is quite unusual during “Moonflower Interlude,” and then piano, in the much larger “Faith” that seals (not without some fleeting academics) the move toward a happy closing.

Track Listing: Solidarity; Brooklyn Mountain; Knee Braces; Cherry Swing; Moonflower Interlude; Faith.

Personnel: Matt Lavelle: cornet, flugelhorn soprano, alto clarinet, run; Lee Odom: soprano sax, clarinet; Charles Waters: alto sax, clarinet; Ras Moshe Burnett: saxophone (tenor and soprano), flute, bells; Tim Stocker: saxophone (baritone), bass clarinet; Mary Cherney: flute, piccolo; Claire de Brunner: bassoon; Laura Ortman: violin; Gil Selinger: cello; Anders Nilsson: Guitar; Jack DeSalvo: banjo, mandola; Chris Forbes: piano; John Pietaro: vibraphone, percussion; François Grillot: bass; Ryan Sawyer: drums; Anaïs Maviel: voice.

Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Unseen Rain Records | Style: Modern Jazz