Brooklyn composer, conductor, and bandleader
Darcy James Argue
returns to his ambitious big band
Secret Society
with the group's wildly inventive, harmonically lush fourth album, 2023's
Dynamic Maximum Tension
. Initially marketed as a "steampunk" big band,
is essentially a sophisticated modern big band in the tradition of bandleaders like
Gil Evans
,
Maria Schneider
Toshiko Akiyoshi
, and
Stan Kenton
, with a bit of
John Zorn
's avant-garde genre experimentalism underpinning their sound. Like those artists,
Argue
brings together a bevy of adept instrumentalists and improvisers to bring his rhythmically kinetic, harmonically vibrant works to life. Among
's ensemble this time out are trumpeter
Ingrid Jensen
, pianist
Adam Birnbaum
, trombonist
Ryan Keberle
, bassist
Matt Clohesy
, trumpeter
Seneca Black
, and many more. Conceptually,
finds
exploring themes of futurism and technology and how the tension between the two can lead to a sense of dystopia. "Dymaxion" (a portmanteau of the album title) is the central track, where
builds dissonant tension between the reeds and brass instruments over a driving groove as baritone saxophonist
Carl Maraghi
dives into a roiling solo. Similarly, on the evocatively titled "Codebreaker," the low brass punches against sharp trumpet and sax lines. While
's work certainly draws deeply from the jazz tradition, there are other influences at play here. He pays homage to the country-influenced rock of
Levon Helm
and
the Band
on "Last Waltz for Levon," while "Ferromagnetic" showcases his love of bass-heavy funk and fusion and features an effects-laden solo from
Jensen
. More traditionally jazz in tone is the album closer "Mae West: Advice," in which Grammy-winning vocalist
Cecile McLorin Salvant
comes on board to impart some of iconic actress
Mae West
's most famous sayings. Other richly attenuated jazz atmospheres pop up throughout, as on the bluesy "Your Enemies Are Asleep" and the shimmering and impressionistic "Tensile Strength." Try and imagine something along the lines of
Miles Davis
exploring the cartoon music of
Raymond Scott
Carl Stalling
, and you'll get a bit of the wry, future-past energy
summon on
. ~ Matt Collar