The Book of the Storm

'The Book of the Storm' consists of four sections, with « Spacious Skies/Faithless Bells » being the first and the longest (23 minutes). There is no piano in this large ensemble, allowing Rob to feature the ever-amazing Brandon Ross to provide orchrestral colors and shades to the proceedings. Rob has also chosen not one, but two great drummers who seem to be churning layers of rhythms separately and swirling together. The horns and strings move in majestic waves while Brandon solos powerfuly on top. As John Carlson takes the first trumpet solo, the ensemble erupts around him in focused layers. I dig the way both guitarists play this central theme while the rest of the large ensemble erupt in layers around them, the various harmonies intersecting in a most fascinating way. The second section, « God Damn », features Brandon Ross on some sly acoustic slide guitar as the rest of the ensemble plays haunting off-kilter lines around him, some of the horns shrieking like ghosts. Charles Burnham takes an inspired, hypnotic solo as Brandon picks out blues-drenched slide notes with him in simpatico. Oscar Noriega's bass clarinet is featured on « Fool's March », along with a few layers of circular horn parts while both guitarists insert their sly lines with Burnham's bent yet nimble violin. While one of the guitarists plays his charted, repeating part, the other plays a magnificent fusion- toned solo. The aptly named final section, « Amongst the Ruins », is a stark and stunning conclusion with haunting French horn, trombone, dark strings and acoustic guitar. It ends with slow marching drums, like a funeral procession, bringing this mighty disc to grand close. Rob Reddy's 'The Book of the Storm' stands out as one great discs of this year. - Bruce Lee Gallanter of Downtown Music Gallery