Album Review: 'Changing Seasons' by the Phil Dwyer Orchestra

It’s not often that a jazz critic gets a chance to review music for orchestra, so when Canadian saxophonist/composer Phil Dwyer’s Changing Seasons (Alma 2011) crossed my desk I was eager to take a listen. Featuring violinist Mark Fewer backed by full big band and orchestra, Changing Seasons takes cues from Vivaldi (note the identical movement titles) as well as the modern modal jazz tradition.

The difficulties in combining jazz band with strings are many. In addition to the size and scope of the arrangements, there is the inescapable issue of swing: classical musicians, often less used to the syncopations of jazz, can fall behind the beat or create an exaggerated, dated style of swing. Dwyer’s orchestra, however, has no such difficulties. This is thanks not only to the quality of his selected musicians but to his orchestration, which highlights the kinds of idiomatic roles that sound best on each instrument. Violins cascade, low brass pounds, and saxophones weave textures in swung runs. Signposts in the form are conspicuous, separating big band sections from strings, signaling the ends of solos, and marking shifts in harmony. At times I found this sectioning heavy-handed, leaving me longing for the counterpoint and voice leading of, say, Vivaldi. But such a comparison is unfair. Dwyer’s harmonic language is rich yet accessible, and he makes his formal intentions clear.

Mark Fewer’s virtuosity is on display throughout. Able to sustain intensity throughout lengthy passages, he can introduce a big band tutti as convincingly as an orchestral diminuendo. Traces of “violin swing” are evident in his soloing, but these are far outweighed by the tone and musicality exhibited throughout the recording.

As for Dwyer’s tackling of theme? Changing Seasons does, indeed, evoke pastoral images of nature. “Summer” features a warm, carefree melody and a beautiful saxophone solo by Dwyer. Confident and full of bends and jubilant arpeggios, he captures the spirit of the piece and the season. The stacked fifths and pentatonic figures of “Spring” paint a picture of new growth and possibility, while “Autumn’s” lingering unison figures create a sense of expectation that gets satisfied in a remarkably un-bleak “Winter.” A satisfying end to an ambitious project.

Release Date:

October 24th, 2011 on Alma Records

Personnel:

• Conductors - Mark Fewer, Phil Dwyer
• Violin Soloist – Mark Fewer
• Violins – Mark Ferris, Robin Braun, Jason Ho, Jennie Press, Toni Stanick, Yi Zhou, Karen Gerbrecht, Anne Cramer, Cam Wilson, Ashley Plaut, Angela Goaddard, Rick Dorfer
• Violas – Neil Miskey, Isabelle Roland, Henry Lee, Reg Quiring
• Cellos – Joseph Elworthy, Zoltan Rosnyai, Olivia Blander, Charles Inkman
• Dougle Bass – Dylan Palmer
• Trumpets – Walter White, Derry Byrne, Henry Christian, John Korsrud
• Saxophone/Woodwinds – PJ Perry, Tom Colclough, Tom Keenlyside, Stever Kaldestad, Chad Makela
• Trombones – Ian McDougall, Al Kay, Jeremy Berkman, Sharman King
• Piano – Chris Gestrin
• Bass – Ken Lister
• Drums – John Wikan
• Additional Musicians – Phil Dwyer, additional piano on “Spring,” tenor sax solo on “Summer.” Ingrid Jensen on trumpet solo on “Winter.”

Track List:

1. Spring
2. Summer
3. Autumn
4. Winter