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Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rob Parton’s Ensemble 9+: Relentless
” data-original-title title>Rob Parton wanted a change of scenery, which brought him to the University of North Texas, where he joined the faculty in 2019. And of course, that meant he now had the opportunity to work with lots of premium large-ensemble talent, as the college has been an incubator for big-band jazz for decades. Many of Parton’s colleagues from UNT and other stalwarts of the Dallas-Fort Worth jazz scene are featured on Relentless, his initial offering from a group he calls Ensemble 9+.
With a combination of smart arrangements of well-chosen repertoire and tight-as-a-drum ensemble work, this release sparkles throughout. The first track, “Open for Business,” makes a definitive statement with its up-tempo pacing and strong melody, composed by DJ Rice, who also plays trombone on the album. A number of other originals, most penned or arranged either by Parton or associates from his Chicago days, maintain interest from beginning to end.
Mike Tomaro
saxophone, tenor
b.1958
‘s “Ray’s Idea” is another fast-swinging tune, again with superb ensemble orchestration, as is Parton’s “No Response,” while “Shorter Images,” composed and arranged by Ron Ruvio, takes things in a more tempered direction, letting the piece’s poignant theme do the heavy lifting.