Label: Motéma Music, 2021

Personnel - Jihye Lee: conduction, compositions; Ben Kono, Quinsin Nachoff, Rob Wilkerson, Jeremy Powell, Carl Maraghi: woodwinds; Sean Jones, Brian Pareschi, John Lake, Alex Norris: trumpet; Alan Ferber, Nick Grinder, Mike Fahie, Mark Patterson (#2,5): trombone; Jennifer Wharton: bass trombone; Adam Birnbaum, Haeun Joo (#2,5,8): piano; Sebastian Noelle: guitar; Evan Gregor: bass; Mark Ferber: drums.

After plunging our ears in this recording, there’s no way to deny that former pop singer Jihye Lee composes for jazz orchestra with unbridled imagination. Daring Mind is the follow-up to her debut release, April (2017), and includes nine compositions that, reflecting the bandleader’s first four years in New York, to be performed by the tight-knit orchestra that serves her writerly ambitions.

“Relentless Mind” shows off a mighty potential at an early stage, when a reciprocal orchestral responsiveness occurs on top of a leisurely rhythm with a focus on the beat. Trumpeter Sean Jones, who was the illustrious guest soloist on Lee’s first record, is also featured here, and the singing qualities of his statement are brilliantly matched by the outstanding trombonist Alan Ferber. Upon the improvisations, the invigorating 13/8 groove from where everything blossomed out is reinstated, and the final section gets a more attractive complexion on the grounds of this elegant underlay.

Each state of mind has created a contemporary musical setting that attempts to convey the exceptional array of emotions experienced by Lee. Take the example of “Unshakable Mind”, which, boasting a persistent bass pedal and folk melody at the outset, classifies as resolute and heavy. Taking advantage of the tune's unwavering pulsation, tenor saxophonist Ben Kono delivers a brawny speech that leads to a portentous finale.

As suggested by the titles, “Revived Mind” opposes to “Dissatisfied Mind”. The former employs elated folk intonations to salute the Earth and pay tribute to the nature, while the latter is an insane ride involving stout counterpoint, a burbling trombone emphasizing dark tones via droning effects, a dynamic drum solo, and magnetic baritone blows that announce the ending.

The blustery multiphonic extroversion of saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff makes a jaw-dropping entrance on “I Dare You”, whose lively pace and lush orchestration find an adequate counterbalance not just in “Suji”, which is elevated by Adam Birnbaum’s delicate pianism and loosen up by the brushes of Mark Ferber and the contrapuntal embellishments of guitarist Sebastian Noelle, but also in “Struggle Gives You Strength”, an R&B-flavored pop ballad.

Swamped in hard-swinging variations, the bluesy “Why is That” is probably the closest to tradition you will get here. Hence, don’t expect Daring Mind to be a traditional big band jazz record. Expect something more adventurous and glowing, and still very accessible.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Relentless Mind ► 02 - Unshakable Mind ► 08 - Dissatisfied Mind