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REVIEW: John Vanore & Abstract Truth "Contagious Words”

By thisisbooksmusic.com
March 19, 2011

allaboutjazz.com

It didn’t seem that long ago when John Vanore had released an album with Abstract Truth, but the wait between albums has been worth it with a brand new one for 2011, Contagious Words (Acoustical Concepts Inc.)

I love big band/ensemble jazz, and in this case it’s a quattuordectet (14-piece), and these guys all sound incredible with force and precision, with the kind of songs I would love to hear (and see) in a live setting. “Substructure” will definitely please fans of Don Ellis with its 6/4 time signature, and the vibe of all of the horns in the room will probably make you want to tear your hair out with ecstasy. Like many trumpet players before him, Vanore is the commander and you hear his placement in each of his song. What’s great is when you hear the other musicians respond or accent his message to the listeners, perhaps it is that message that are his Contagious Words.

The album was produced by Vanore himself, and sounds incredible both at loud, booming volumes and at lower volumes. I found myself wanting to hear this in a number of ways, but I’ll have to stop so I can appreciate it weeks, months, and definitely years into the future.