Additional information
Personnel: Richard Nelson (guitar); Peter H. Bloom (flute, bass flute, piccolo, alto saxophone); Arni Cheatham (flute, alto saxophone); Daniel Ian Smith (flute, tenor saxophone); Phil Scarff (clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Mark Messier (clarinet, baritone saxophone); Dan Zupan (baritone saxophone); Jeanne Snodgrass, Taylor Ho Bynum (trumpet); Jeff Marsanskis (trombone, bass trombone); Jay Keyser, Bob Pilkington (trombone); Bill Lowe (bass trombone, tuba); Jerry Edwards (electric bass); Harry Wellott (drums); Craig Ellis (percussion). Recording information: Killian Hall, Mit (09/19/2001-07/16/2007); Kresge Auditorium, MIT, Cambridge, MA (09/19/2001-07/16/2007); Sanders Theater, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (09/19/2001-07/16/2007). The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra are a wild `n' wooly cutting-edge jazz big band. They can be heard at their best on the intensely passionate AMERICAN AGONISTES, which memorializes the tragic New York City events of September 11, 2001. This emotion-packeddisc is alternately likable, roaring, chilling, mournful, desolate, and hopeful--sometimes all at once. The three lengthy suites contained herein juggle composed passages and freewheeling improvisation, brisk swing and classy tangos. This AMERICAN story is highly recommended to fans of adventurous orchestral jazz (iSun Ra, Gil Evans, Anthony Braxton).
