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Metropole Orkest — Arakatak
(V2 VVNL5100, 2026, LP)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-07-09

Arakatak Cover art

It’s not often that a release by an orchestra can be legitimately categorized as jazz, but Metropole Orkest is no ordinary orchestra. Over the 80s years since its founding, the orchestra has backed such diverse artists as  Ella Fitzgerald, Adrian Belew, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Jarreau, Tori Amos, Bono, Brian Eno, Elvis Costello, Snarky Puppy, Todd Rundgren, Louis Cole, and dozens (if not hundreds) more. But Arakatak is a pure Metropole release with no celebrity soloists, though it features compositions by Donny McCaslin, Tineke Postma, Louis Cole, and others. Miho Hazama takes the baton for a rousing set of big arrangements, starting off with the title track, a great piece by Morris Kliphuis that utilizes all the sections of the orchestra to great effect, with playful rhythms and tasty melodies. In today’s musical landscape, it sounds like a suite from a motion picture soundtrack, since that’s the main place we hear strings backed by bass, drums, and guitar. Vince Mendoza’s “Bright Lights and Jubilations” starts with a brass fanfare and keeps the interest going, and McCaslin’s “Luminosity” provides some lovely atmospheric textures. Hazama’s own “Splash the Colors” is probably the most cinematic piece, and Postma’s “Into the Dawn of Light” builds from a lovely flute solo into a driving ostinato that maintains a slightly off-kilter series of sections. My favorite track is probably “The Most Important Question,” written by Mark Guiliana, which balances energy and scope into a total package. Even without the participation of high-profile guests, the members of the orchestra step up for excellent solos, whether it’s saxes, guitar, trombone, or trumpet. After 80 years, it’s safe to say there are no members of the original Metropole Orkest left, but the current membership more than adequately carries on the tradition.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Tineke Postma, Metropole Orkest

 

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