Abstinence

Drummer John Hollenbeck follows up his 2005 release, A Blessing, with a similarly inventive exploration of the range of an ensemble he’s calling a jazz big band. Considering the addition of cellist Henning Sieverts, the vocal stylings of Theo Bleckmann, and Hollenbeck’s “not your parent’s big band” arrangements, however, Joys & Desires makes no move to cling to the artistic implications of the jazz band brand. Highlight tracks such as “Abstinence” convey the power and sophistication, and a certain measure of disarming coolness, that such a large ensemble lends Hollenbeck’s music, demonstrating invention quite apart from the usual riffing and take-a-solo structure.

—MS