Ron Horton - Subtextures

[relyles]

A recent email from Ron Horton reminded me that I wanted to bring his new Fresh Sound New Talent disc, Subtextures, to people's attention. It’s a worthwhile disc featuring trumpeter Horton in a quartet date with fellow Jazz Composer Collective members Frank Kimbrough, Ben Allison and Matt Wilson. This is a nice follow up to his previous recording, Genius Envy. Horton is a very good trumpeter, but for me what distinguishes him is his distinctive composing. Always accessible, but with a mysterious edge that is missing from most mainstream recordings. This recording also benefits from the band members familiarity with each other. These guys play together so often in each other's projects that you never get that feeling of a pick up band on a blowing date. Despite that, each project carries the leader's distinctive personality.

After a couple of weeks I have just returned to the disc to dig deeper into its "subtextures". Recommended.

[montg]

Although I haven't picked up this disc yet, I like what I've of heard of Ron Horton in Ben Allison's projects. BTW, a new Ben Allison with Medicine Wheel release is scheduled for May--I assume Horton will be on it too.

[Clunky]

I really like this one, had it the week it was released direct from FSNT, Horton has a great tone and his compositions work very nicely.

The opening track (forget the name but it's off Hill's Blackfire) is just sublime. I think it's even better than "Genius Envy" and I though that was pretty good too.

[Stefan Wood]

This is an excellent cd -- I loved Horton's first cd on Omnitone, but this shows a lot of growth and expanding on the music from the previous cd. Working with Andrew Hill must do wonders for his compositional skills.

[Eric]

I snagged this one too - echo the previous comments.

I also really like the new Phil Grenadier on FSNT. Kurt Rosenwinkel plays guitar on it ... it really is a fun CD to listen to.

Eric

[Clunky]

FSNT seem to have a number of interesting looking new releases by Bill Carrothers, Chris Cheek and Ron Horton. I've rather lost track of much of their output over the last year or so, too many unfamiliar names, but his lot look pretty interesting.

Anyone heard any of these, care to comment ?

[Guest akanalog]

FSNT stuff isn't really my thing but as long as people are discussing here i might as well throw in a good word for the marlon browden trio album (he played drums on that osby w. strings album on blue note). it's a nice trio album. very spacious but always with a firm rhythmic underpinning.

also eivind opvsik's two overseas albums are nice. it is too bad he uses jive sax players like tony malaby on occassion, but opvsik is a good song writer-catchy and memorable tunes.

and if you like mark turner, chrisitan weisendanger or however you spell it, "urban village" is nice though to my ears nasheet waits is wasted sounding like a wispy paul motian and with turner's dead tone playing overhead it gives me a headache at points. i think it is a nice album though-just plays to some things i personally don't enjoy.

[sal]

Like most others here, I like this album, but there is very little coming from the Jazz Composers Collective that I don't like. This album is very interesting from a composititional standpoint, and I think that the Kimbrough/Allison/Wilson trio can make anyone sound good.

[Kalo]

I've been digging the Jazz Composer's Collective, too, and will definitely check this puppy out.

[fkimbrough]

Ron has a new CD coming out on Fresh Sounds - "Everything in a Dream" features Ron's compositions (and one by Samuel Barber) with John O'Gallagher (alto sax), Tony Malaby (tenor sax), Frank Kimbrough (piano), Masa Kamaguchi and John Hebert (basses) and Michael Sarin on drums. Not sure of the release date, but it should be out soon. It was a fun date - those of you who enjoyed his last two will want to check it out.

Edited February 2, 2006 by fkimbrough

[relyles]

I recently received an email from Ron Horton. The new FSNT disc is available from the Fresh Sound website. Ron also told me that he should have copies of the disc when he returns to NY from a tour.