Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra: “Night Devoid Of Stars” (2020) CD Review

Daniel Hersog is a jazz trumpet player and composer who was raised in British Columbia, and graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston in 2016 (he was chosen to give the student commencement speech that year). On his new album, Night Devoid Of Stars, he delivers some wonderful big band music. This album contains mostly original material, composed by Daniel Hersog, and features the work of a lot of exciting jazz musicians, including Chris Startup on alto saxophone and clarinet; Michael Braverman on also saxophone, soprano saxophone and clarinet; Noah Preminger on tenor saxophone; Tom Keenlyside on tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo and alto flute; Ben Henriques on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet; Michael Kim on trumpet and flugelhorn; Brad Turner on trumpet and flugelhorn; Derry Byrne on trumpet and flugelhorn; Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet and flugelhorn; Rod Murray on trombone; Jim Hopson on trombone; Brian Harding on trombone; Sharman King on bass trombone; Frank Carlberg on piano; James Meger on bass; and Michael Sarin on drums.

The disc opens with an original tune, “Cloud Break,” and as it begins it feels exactly how the title would lead you to expect. With the sun breaking through the clouds to bring some light, some joy to those of us below, the music seems to urge folks to come out of doors, to gather in the warmth, to celebrate. And we could all use a break in the clouds these days, right? There is a section where the bass leads a groovy charge forward, while Brad Turner’s lead offers some delightful thoughts above it. The piece then takes us into some interesting areas, particularly during that saxophone lead. That is followed by “Motion.” There is something uplifting about this piece. And though there is motion, as indicated by the title, the piece is not in any hurry, and it seems to gather us before then taking off into groovier territory. I love Frank Carlberg’s work on piano. It is that instrument that is determined to dig a little deeper, and is supported by Michael Sarin on drums, getting things pumping along. We then arrive at a rather peaceful plateau, where we catch our breath, take in our surroundings, before the saxophone leads us to another cool place, with the piano continuing to interact.

Some pretty and somber work on piano begins “Makeshift Memorial,” drawing us in. Then, after a minute and a half or so, the other musicians enter, yet keep that serious tone. There seem to be many makeshift memorials these days. The other day my girlfriend and I came upon one on our daily walk. It was for a man who died on his 25th birthday. We were not sure the cause and didn’t know the person, but it affected us nonetheless. Someone wrote in chalk on the street, “Please come back.” And there is something of that sense of reaching out in this piece. Reaching out, even if it might be futile. And some comfort is offered, and, before the end, some hope, some love. “Night Devoid Of Stars,” the album’s title track, has an intriguing opening, particularly that work on piano and those strange touches from the horn section, which are offered in a language that is outside our normal scope. There is something tense about it, and also a sense of excitement. And when things become more familiar, we wonder, has the music changed, or have we adapted? Either way, we have now come together with the music, and there is a joy emerging, so when things get a little crazy, a little chaotic, we are ready. The music’s concerns are now our concerns. Then as the track is nearing its conclusion, we get some more nice solo work on piano.

The album’s only cover is “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” and it is an unusual take on the song, seeming to come from a darker place than normal, leading us to we look for that break in the clouds that the first track provided. We do get some lighter moments, but there is something unsteady about the landscape of this rendition, like we could stumble into some other realm just below the surface, where things might appear similar to our reality but have a frightening, or even dangerous, vein running through them. The warmth that comes at times isn’t completely to be trusted. There is a bit of tension at the beginning of “Indelible,” seeming to drive the piece forward. Then a gentle, slow groove is established, and at a certain point there is an odd and delightful sense of play, like mischievous pixies entering the room. I love that section. The album concludes with “Song For Henrique,” a song that builds and swells at the beginning, then changes tones, as the more somber piano lead takes over. The piece then engages us in a dance, and though things get wilder from there, we never stray too far from it. We ride this dance to the end, wherever it may take us.

CD Track List

1. Cloud Break
2. Motion
3. Makeshift Memorial
4. Night Devoid Of Stars
5. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
6. Indelible
7. Song For Henrique

Night Devoid Of Stars was released on June 12, 2020 on Cellar Live Records.