Review by Chris Spector of the Midwest Record
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“Changes”—the sixth album from The Heritage Ensemble—is so named for several reasons.
First, all the tracks are original compositions. This is a departure from the The Heritage Ensemble’s usual reportorial approach of performing arrangements and/or original compositions of Hebraic melodies.
Second, the title track “Changes” (Track #3) is based on the chordal changes to “Beatrice,” a composition by Sam Rivers. In this version there is no specific melody. It is all improvisation in a duo structure performed by Frank Wagner on bass and myself on piano.
The third change is “Scat” (Track #6). This is the only vocal on the album. Again it’s a duo with Frank Wagner on bass and myself performing the vocals. This track was originally done “just for fun,” during one of our recording sessions. It was never meant to be part of an album, but it fits the semi-eclectic nature of this particular album.
True to form of our previous albums, there is style variety among the tracks—from the Latin-tinged “For the Children” (Track #1); and the bolero styled “Suddenly” (Track #5); to the swing styles of “Free Spirit” (Track #2) and “Swingin’ Mr. Schultz” (Track #4); to the pensive “In A Quiet Moment” (Track #7); and the edgy “Inside Blues” (Track #8).
“In A Quiet Moment” is dedicated to multi-instrumentalist Mario Rivera (1939-2007) who performed on my first Latin album—“Wonderful Discovery” (2007) —in a group headed by piano virtuoso Arturo O’Farrill. It was Rivera’s last recording session.
Last, to come full circle, because this album represents some significant changes in The Heritage Ensemble’s repertoire, we launch this newest offering on September 23, the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, when summer turns to fall.
We hope you’ll check out “Changes”.
Eugene Marlow, Ph.D.
Founder/Leader/Arranger/Piano
The Heritage Ensemble
September 2015