The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra: Chronography

On Chronography, Boston-based trumpeter and composer Greg Hopkins and his 16-member Jazz Orchestra revitalize ten of the leader's never-before-recorded compositions and arrangements, most of them well-known standards from the Great American Songbook, that span more than half a century of astute and perceptive songwriting.

The earliest, Willard Robison's "Old Folks," was arranged for the Buddy Rich band in 1972; the most recent, Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," for his own orchestra in 2018. Between those dates rest half a dozen standards, each one adeptly scored by Hopkins. Three charts—Rodgers and Hart's "My Romance" (1982), Ellington's "Come Sunday" (2006) and Dori Caymmi's "Like a Lover" (2007)—were later revised, and the more recent versions are heard here. After eight standards, Hopkins closes the album with a pair of his original compositions: "For 'O'" and "Dr. Diz," the last a medley of Dizzy Gillespie's "Hot House," "Con Alma" and "A Night in Tunisia." Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do" and a second Rodgers and Hart theme, "Spring Is Here," round out the engaging program.

Guest artist Renese King sings on "Like a Lover" and "Come Sunday," and a second guest, tenor saxophonist Billy Pierce, solos on the opening number, Johnny Green's desirous "Body and Soul." While other soloists are unlisted, baritone Brian Landrus and pianist Tim Ray clearly share the honors on "Old Folks," tenor Rick DiMuzio is front and center on "Spring Is Here" and "Dr. Diz," soprano Lihi Haruvi on "A Night in Tunisia," while Hopkins presumably reserves some if not all of the trumpet solos for himself. Even though well-written, Hopkins' charts lean toward slow to moderate tempos, and there is nothing here that could be mistaken for a barn-burner.

"This recording," Hopkins writes, "is a kind of panoramic chronology of my work over fifty-five years." Whatever the reasons behind Chronography, it is a pleasure to have these well-drawn charts at last on record and available to a wider audience.

Comments