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Samson Trinh: Very Strange Night
ByThe one thing Trinh hasn't learned (but probably will) is that one should always include more than 35 minutes of music on a CD if he wishes to earn a complimentary review. Be that is it may, the music that is presented is certainly interesting, even though its jazz components are often peripheral. Trinh wrote the music and lyrics for every number save the standard "Time After Time, which he orchestrated for the Upper East Side ensemble. The vocalstwo by Terri Murphy, one each by Adrian Duke and Jackie Frostare no better than ordinary, with a country/Hawaiian veneer on Frost's "Thank Goodness and nice work at the Hammond B-3 by Duke on "Signs Are Full of Jive. The lyrics are printed in the booklet, but that's not much help, as they are by and large inscrutable.
Trumpeter Rex Richardson, one of Chicago's finest, and pianist Laura Candler-White are paired on the curious "Piece for Trumpet and Piano, which runs for all of 25 seconds. The Upper East Side band is also featured on "Very Strange Night (with Richardson on trumpet?) and "Jive, the Lounge Union Orchestra (backing Murphy's vocal) on "To You, Near You, With You.
In the end, it's hard to know what to make of this "very strange mixture. Trinh is obviously an able musician, but one who seems not to have found an explicit point of view. There are some pleasant moments in this Strange Night, but not enough to assuage the listener until daybreak. And one mustn't overlook the album's modest 35 minute playing time.
Track Listing
Intro: Drop the Needle; To You, Near You, With You; I Can
Personnel
Samson Trinh
composer / conductorSamson Trinh: piano, conductor; Eve Debordenave: flute; Adrian Sandi, Adam Butalwicz: clarinet; Bruce Hammel: bassoon; Mike Cemprola: alto saxophone, clarinet, flute; David Hood: alto saxophone; J.C. Kuhl, Richard Wray, Jason Arce: tenor saxophone; Emily Avesian, Bruce Woodson: baritone saxophone; Bob Miller, Rex Richardson, Taylor Barnett, Mark Ingraham, Charles Gregory, Matt Wittig: trumpet; Pete Anderson, Reggie Pace, Toby Whitaker: trombone; Stefan Demetriadis, Reggie Chapman: bass trombone; Stephanie Fairbairn: tuba; Scott Burton: guitar; Charles Arthur: lap steel guitar; Malcolm Pulley: mandolin; Skip Gailes, Laura Candler-White, Daniel Clarke: piano; Jonathan Cannon, Rusty Farmer: bass; Brian Jones: drums; Mike Boyd: xylophone, chimes; Ben Anderson: washboard; Aaron Thompson: timpani, bells, drums; Molly Berg: whistling; Joe Mager: finger snaps; Susanna Klein, Stacy Markowitz: violin; Molly Sharp: viola; Neal Cary: cello; Adrian Duke: vocals, piano, organ; Jackie Frost, Terri Murphy: vocals.
Album information
Title: Very Strange Night | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Giggity Records
Comments
About Samson Trinh
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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