muzycy:
Josh Berman: cornet
Jeb Bishop: trombone
Guillermo Gregorio: clarinet
Jason Stein: bass clarinet
Keefe Jackson: tenor saxophone
Jason Adasiewicz: vibraphone
Joshua Abrams: bass
Frank Rosaly: drums

JazzTimes:
The name of cornetist Josh Berman’s newest group refers back to the “gangs” led by Bix Beiderbecke or to Chicago’s Austin High Gang, which existed close to a century ago. Although Berman formed this octet under the influence of that era, tackling standards like “Jada” and “I’ve Found a New Baby,” this isn’t merely a retro outfit. If Eddie Condon heard this Gang’s take on his “Liza,” he’d surely be cursing. Berman has said this group is as much about the interaction of Chicago regulars as it is about the music they revitalize. And this Gang plays well together.

All this becomes clear in the opener, “Love Is Just Around the Corner.” After Jason Stein’s bass clarinet clears its throat, the group merely hints at the theme before Berman, Jeb Bishop (trombone) and Guillermo Gregorio (clarinet) straddle hot swing and free blowing. The theme to “Jada” is somewhere in the room at first, but then saxophonist Keefe Jackson transforms it into something new and exciting during his gruff tenor solo. The most interesting revival comes with “I’ve Found a New Baby,” which is played as a beautifully slow dirge that puts Josh Abrams’ bass at the forefront of the commentary.

Berman wrote three of the eight tunes, keeping the feel of the album more on the modern side. Vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz—already adding a twist since his instrument was rarely used by the bygone gangs—gets a spotlight on the eerie-cum-romantic “One Train May Hide Another.” Traditionalists might not hear it, but Berman’s Gang knows the classic material, and it’s clear they also know how to keep it vital all these years later.
By Mike Shanley


All About Jazz:
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Kornecista, kompozytor, jeden z organizatorów Umbrella Festival to dzisiaj ważna postać chicagowskiego środowiska muzycznego, mający swój wkład w rozwój sceny improwizowanego jazzu w Chicago.
Josh Berman & His Gang to oktet, złożony z wybitnych jazzowych improwizatorów, Josh Berman: cornet, Jeb Bishop: trombone, Guillermo Gregorio: clarinet, Jason Stein: bass clarinet, Keefe Jackson: tenor saxophone, Jason Adasiewicz: vibraphone, Joshua Abrams: bass i Frank Rosaly: drums.
Na płytę składa się pięć standardów jazzowych z początków narodzin gatunku (np. otwierający "Love Is Just Around the Corner", który w latach 30. był wielkim przebojem), jak też z późniejszego okresu (kompozycje Dereka Bailey'a i Art Ensemble of Chicago) plus trzy własne kompozycje lidera.
39-letni Josh Berman wydaje się być jazzowym hazardzistą, bo któż zdecydowałby się znaleźć wspólny mianownik pomiędzy Lincoln Center a Art Ensemble of Chicago?
Dla Bermana z kolegami tradycja ma o tyle sens, o ile można nadać jej własny, oryginalny akcent. Każdy z muzyków to świadomy tajników gatunku, muzyczny erudyta, dlatego też efekt końcowy jest fantastyczny, nie dziwią więc pełne zachwytu recenzje w amerykańskich, jazzowych mediach jak JazzTimes, DownBeat, All About Jazz, Dusted Magazine, PopMatters i innych.
autor: Jarosław Lisiak