The Wilbur Rehmann Quintet | Old Friends and New
Published: September 30, 2010
There sure is a lot of good jazz being played in the Treasure State. The latest nugget of proof is the Wilbur Rehmann Quintet’s third CD. The talented Helena saxman joins forces with “the elder statesman of Montana jazz,” Blackie Nelson, on guitar; Blackie’s son, Ken Nelson, keyboards; Rennan Rieke, acoustic bass; and Jeremy Slead, drums and hand percussion. The group is joined by young Sarah Dramstad, playing tenor sax on two numbers.
Drumlummon Institute in Helena, which is dedicated to publishing and producing art created in Montana and the American West, co-produced the album. Executive director Rick Newby pays tribute to the quintet’s contributions to Montana jazz culture, including its nurturing of young musicians. “They grace our lives with their extraordinary musicianship, big hearts, and public spiritedness,” he notes.
In his intro, Rehmann says when they play, “The ideas come from us but they go out to you. This great conversation uses jazz as the language; we speak musically to each other and simultaneously to our wonderful audiences.”
And do they ever. They bring up the big guns at the outset, cookin’ and honkin’ on the opener, Rehmann’s own “Sittin’ Here (Thinking About You).”
The bluesy “Beatrice,” by Sam Rivers, is next, with its cool, sleepy guitar and smooth and bending sax lead. You can’t hear Rehmann take a breath. What control!
Pat Metheny’s extended piece, “Hermitage,” follows, with its bossa-nova feel. Lots of elongated melodic strains, lightly-tripping piano, and crackling drum work; everybody gets to stretch out here. I envision palm trees and a cool breeze on this one.
Michael Brecker’s “Midnight Voyage” is sultry and moody; and Blackie Nelson contributes a spirited new song with a big band feel for his wife Isabel, called “Isabop.”
Dueting saxophones highlight Horace Silver’s “Señor Blues.” It’s way cool, with Rehmann and Dramstad spinning silk on the harmony leads, and Ken Nelson answering with some syncopated piano work. Nice balance!
The finale, Metheny’s “James,” whoops it up with rolling drums and Rehmann squeakin’ and wailin’ on those dizzying lead lines. Raucous! Everyone gets to take the limelight on the album, and deservedly so.
The album was recorded at St. Paul’s Methodist Church Sanctuary and superb sound engineering by Ken Nelson at Cottage Recording in Helena provides the icing on the cake.
The album is a visual treat too, with its cover sporting a lush Montana landscape by painter Dale Livezey.
The band performs tunes from Old Friends and New Oct. 17 Walkers Grill in Billings, Oct. 23 at the KM Theater in Kalispell and Dec. 2 in Dillon, in a show sponsored by the Southwest Montana Arts Council. The new recording is available at venues across the state and on the web at www.montanajazz.com and www.drumlummon.org.
– Mariss McTucker
