Joes Tango: Concerto for Trombone & Other Works

The Trombone Concerto was the last completed work of jazz pianist Chick Corea before his death in 2021. The work, for trombone and orchestra, was premiered by New York Philharmonic principal trombonist Joseph Alessi with the Sao Paulo Philharmonic Orchestra; it is here arranged for solo trombone and wind band by composer John Dickson, who worked with Corea on the orchestration of the original piece. His arrangement works nicely, with plenty of contrast between soloist and ensemble. Alessi returns as soloist on this 2023 release. Composer Jorge Machain is represented on the album by Five Cities, a concerto for brass quintet and wind band. These unusual forces allow for complex textures that are beautifully handled here. It is quite a fine valedictory work, with hints but not wholesale adoptions of Latin rhythms. Also intriguing and underexposed is Hugo Montenegros Fanfare for the New, originally written for Stan Kentons Neophonic Orchestra and also arranged for wind band by Machain. Everything comes together here with a certain X factor. The UNLV Wind Orchestra is a top-notch group; even though it is partly composed of undergraduates, it has no trouble matching Alessi for precision, and the young Machain is clearly a rising star in wind band composition. This is likely the band music release of the year. ~ James Manheim