The WDR Big Band has released two albums today, appealing to fans with guest musicians. While the collaboration with composer and arranger Florian Ross is more traditional and delicate jazz, the collaboration with Mark Lettieri is of a different caliber: Mark Lettieri Group Meets WDR Big Band at Studio 4 really rocks.
The fact that there is a buzz among the audience is partly due to the fact that Lettieri, as a founding member of the jazz fusion collective Snarky Puppy, is musically inclined towards powerful groove music. In addition, guitarist Lettieri has brought together some great musicians from Dallas, Snarky Puppy's home base, in his Mark Lettieri Group, including Snarky Puppy drummer Jason “JT” Thomas, bassist Wes Stephenson, and Daniel Porter on keyboards. Last but not least, the mix is very powerful, rich, and full-bodied, especially in the lower registers. A fun album? Absolutely!
The compositions on the album are an “explosive mix of fusion, funk, and jazz rock,” as the label correctly informs us. Handing them over to a big band familiar with popular music and jazz can only lead to a rousing recording. And the playlist of ten tracks proves this time and again.
Goonsquad opens the dance with a powerful basic groove and delicate guitar playing as garnish. The rhythmic layering of Titan Tail is more intricate, with the brass section coming into its own. Knows is a very powerful groove number. Extraspecial is a delicate, sensitive number reminiscent of a flattering soul piece. But to even out the tempo, it is immediately followed by Naptime, which acts like sonic caffeine and certainly does not invite you to take a nap.
Balladesk plays Seuss Pants before Gigantactics vehemently demands space on the dance floor and in the listening room. Slide Rule once again serves up a very relaxed, groovy soundscape before Star Catchers picks up the tempo in 4/4 and rushes straight to its destination, which Architeuthis then embellishes with decisive relaxation.
It is remarkable to what extent the dynamics that the Big Band and Mark Lettieri Group ignite, both individually and together, have found their way onto the recording. The speakers have to work hard and reward the listener with music as an experience, both sonically and—if desired and with the appropriate courage—physically. However, transparency is never lost, and the spatial gradation always remains clearly present in the mind's eye. This is great audio cinema.
All in all, Mark Lettieri Group Meets WDR Big Band At Studio 4 is a real stroke of luck for fans of lively funk, fans of lively big band performances, and fans of both together. Excellent! (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)
Mark Lettieri, electric guitar
Wes Stephenson, electric bass
Daniel Porter, keyboards
Jason “JT” Thomas, drums
WDR Big Band
Jörg Achim Keller, direction
Michael Abene, arrangements