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Paul Cram Orchestra — Campin' Out
(Victo 078, 2001, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2003-08-01

Campin' Out Cover art

Paul Cram is a Canadian composer and tenor saxophonist who has been on the Canadian scene for nearly twenty years. From free jazz based projects to television soundtracks, the man has made the rounds from Vancouver to Toronto and now in Halifax, but has mostly remained outside international notice. The avant-garde performer has found many means to fulfill his nature to create in various formats now culminating with Campin’ Out, his highest profile project yet. This disc is five modern jazz workouts, which cover the gamut of styles from free jazz to fusion and big band. Cram has found a collective means to merge disparate jazz styles into a cohesive statement on par with Paul Dunmall’s joyous big band excursions. “Life of Crime” is probably the best arranged piece on the disc as the brass section opens the piece and establishes an upbeat tone for guitarist John Gzowski to add a few tenuous leads. Steven Naylor then does his best Keith Tippett interpretation against a healthy dialogue with the ensemble. “Kafka’s Chair” has an obvious air of Russian tonality to it as it serves the most orchestral and gloomy in the set. Closing out the disc is “Trouble in Paradise,” the best overall track. The free dialogue between clarinetist Frank Reilly and the rest of the group opens the piece that wades into an excellent fat trombone solo and drum exchange. Overall it’s surprising that we have not heard of Cram’s works stateside until now since these match the fire and passion of seen from US and UK practitioners.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 27, 2001 releases

Related artist(s): Paul Cram

More info
http://conditionwestrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/campin-out-the-paul-cram-orchestra

 

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