BOBBY VINCE PAUNETTO & THE COMMIT TO MEMORY BAND - RECONSTITUTED (2001)

A modern jazz swing cd with Latin jazz touches- a potent band with push, richly harmonic and lyrical instrumental compositions with surprises that lock one in

Tom Harrell-Flg.Horn; Larry Farrell-Trb.;Todd Anderson-Ten.; Mike Richmond-Ac. Bass; Gary Smulyan-Baritone Sax & Bass Clarinet; Bill O'Connell-Ac. Pno. & Roland Keys; Armen Donelian-Ac. Pno. & Roland Keys; Billy Drewes-Sop.,Alto Saxes, Flute & Drs. John Riley-Drs.; Glenn Drewes-Trumpet:Produced By Bobby Vince Paunetto; Co-Produced by Denny Bridges; Executive Producer: Bobby Vince Paunetto

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review by Dave Nathan Allmusic.com

Although not all that well-known among the public, composer, arranger, and founder and leader of the Commit to Memory Band Bobby Vince Paunetto has a strong following among top-ranked jazz musicians. Many of the members of the band have been with Paunetto on other releases, including Commit to Memory and Composer in Public. His compositions reflect a dedication to melody and those harmonic qualities and textures which allow for substantial variety and surprise in the manner Paunetto arranges his compositions. His music also allows for full freedom for each participant to fully express himself. Listen to Billy Drewes work melodic magic on soprano sax on "Co-Hearsed" before fading out, giving way to the probing piano of Armen Donelian. There's also room left on this track for solo work by Todd Anderson on tenor and Larry Farrell's trombone. While the emphasis is on individual effort, the composer creates engaging opportunities for ensemble work, both smoothly in unison and slightly dissonant, as on "Foreign Glasses," before seguing into a number of solos, including one by Mike Richmond's bass. There are three suites on the album. None of them are extended tracks as might be expected. Rather, they are expressions in miniature of ideas that at some later point might be "reconstituted" as longer pieces. Glenn Drewes' trumpet is especially telling on the "Emotional Currency" suite. In addition to the basic high quality of the music and the musicians, there are other features that make this album attractive. First, while modern in structure and theme, there's a symmetry about the music which avoids churlishness and harshness, traits often found in modern jazz. The second is the heavy reliance on acoustic, rather than electronic, instrumentation, giving the session authenticity and credibility. True, the Roland Keys are present, but are used very sparingly. Recommended.