I am pleased to announce the latest project that has been in the works for the last year. We have recently started rehearsals with my new quintet, “The Forefront,” for a recording that will take place on August 18th and 19th. In addition to myself, the quintet personnel consists of Matt Mill on Trumpet, John Oleary on Piano, Alejandro Arenas on Bass, and Mark Feinman on Drums. The group focuses on small group composition and more specifically, developed and through composed small group composition. Basically, we intend to get away from the typical “Head-Solos-Head” forms and add development sections similar to that of modern big band composition. It has had its interesting moments and its frustrations thus far being that we are attempting to compose large scale works but using a much smaller pallet to do so. Many would probably consider five instruments to be far too limiting at times, (and believe me the temptation has arisen numerous times to add just one more horn) but at the same this this definitely has fostered exploration into the vast collection of sounds that each instrument has to offer as well as experimentation with alternate roles for all of the instruments.

We will be recording 8 pieces in August and then the quintet will continue on there after recording whenever need arises. Incrementally, we will evaluating the amassed collections of recordings that we will then compile and piece together into recordings. The greatest thing about The Forefront is that everybody in the group will be writing and arranging music for the group. More to come soon about the first release and check the gigs list for upcoming performances.

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