Remy Le Boeuf - Assembly of Shadows - in which he joins the ranks of jazz orchestra composers
Following his May 2019 leader debut, Light as a Word—hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle for its “radiant, uncluttered beauty”—saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf takes a major leap forward in his artistic journey with his jazz orchestra release, Assembly of Shadows. Before embarking on the title work, a cinematic five-movement suite that also serves as the ensemble's namesake, the album begins with the standalone composition “Strata” and a kaleidoscopic reimagining of Ornette Coleman’s “Honeymooners.” The players that populate Assembly of Shadows are among New York City’s finest, including Anna Webber (flute), Philip Dizack (trumpet), Alex Goodman (guitar) and of course Le Boeuf himself on alto/soprano saxophones and woodwinds. “I considered the unique voices of the soloists in the band and how I could highlight them to tell the story behind the music,” says Le Boeuf. And what a story. The suite follows the experience of “a child who runs away into a nearby forest, gets lost, and falls asleep,” Le Boeuf explains. “When she wakes, the shadows of the trees come alive and dance with her. Some are kind, some are scary, but they all teach her something about herself. They guide her home as the moon sets and she wakes up in her own bed, wondering if her adventure happened in reality or if it was a dream.” Conductor: Gregory Robbins Woodwinds: Remy Le Boeuf (Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Alto Flute), Anna Webber* (Flute), Ben Kono (Tenor Sax/Clarinet), Vito Chiavuzzo (Flute, Alto Sax), John Lowery (Tenor Sax/Clarinet), Carl Maraghi (Bari Sax/Bass Clarinet) Trumpets: John Lake, Tony Glausi, Philip Dizack, Matt Holman Trombones: Eric Miller, Natalie Cressman, Isaac Kaplan, Jennifer Wharton, Nick Depinna** Guitar: Alex Goodman Piano: Martha Kato Bass: Matt Aronoff Drums: Peter Kronreif Percussion: James Shipp *On Strata and Transfiguration only **Additional trombone overdubs on Honeymooners, Assembly of Shadows, and A Light Through the Leaves.
