Colouring Hockets
John Hollenbeck & NDR Bigband (Flexatonic Records)
Colouring Hockets
by John Hollenbeck & NDR Bigband
Label: Flexatonic Records
Recorded at NDR Studio 1, Hamburg, 11-16.12.2023
Released: Nov. 15, 2024
In his ninth large-ensemble album, Colouring Hockets, John Hollenbeck elevates the big band format by exploring its untapped potential through a seamless integration of percussion. This collaboration with the esteemed NDR Bigband, recorded in Hamburg’s NDR Studio 1, captures Hollenbeck’s seasoned aptitude for large-scale composition while venturing into uncharted territory with a unique percussion quartet. Rooted in Hollenbeck’s tradition of melding the familiar with the avant-garde, the album’s distinctive percussion-centered approach adds an invigorating layer to the ensemble’s already potent brass and woodwind sections.
The driving idea for Colouring Hockets came from NDR’s percussionist Marcio Doctor, whose vision to blend marimba, vibraphone, drumset, and hand percussion with the big band became the foundation of the project. The album's title itself reflects Hollenbeck’s concept of “hocket”—a medieval technique where melodies are interwoven between musicians—and the term “colouring,” which nods to the textural richness of his work, imbued with Hollenbeck's Canadian surroundings. In tracks like Marimba Hocket and Drum Hocket, these interwoven melodic lines bring a contemporary spin to this ancient approach, creating a dynamic and deeply layered soundscape.
Each composition showcases Hollenbeck’s deft hand with both rhythm and harmony. Cool Code, an intense, pattern-driven piece, opens with a complex rhythm that resembles Morse code, an intriguing nod to the title. Trumpeter Percy Pursglove shines here, navigating the intricate rhythmic terrain with an improvisational fluidity that speaks to his technical mastery. Meanwhile, Pure Poem draws from the structural simplicity of Shigeru Matsui’s numeric poetry, as Hollenbeck transforms rhythmic motifs into a quirky, energetic ensemble piece that recalls a “drum corps playing an Energizer Bunny commercial,” in Hollenbeck's words.
The album also revisits earlier compositions in new contexts. Shaking Peace, a reimagining of Hollenbeck's Gray Cottage Studies, becomes a contemplative duet between vibraphonist Matt Moran and pianist Florian Weber, highlighting the tactile, almost physical qualities of their interplay. Closing with Sum, the album’s reflective nature reaches a gentle peak, where unexpected musical ideas coalesce into a serene finale.
Colouring Hockets redefines big band music with innovation and complexity, delivering an experience that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant. Hollenbeck and the NDR Bigband have crafted a recording that feels as bold as it is intimate, offering listeners a vibrant yet subtle journey through new sonic landscapes.
Personnel
NDR Bigband:
Trumpets:
Thorsten Benkenstein
Ingolf Burkhardt
Christian Höhn
Percy Pursglove
Saxophones:
Fiete Felsch • Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute
Peter Bolte • Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Julius Gawlik • Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet
Frank Delle • Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Luigi Grasso • Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Trombones:
Dan Gottshall
Klaus Heidenreich
Stefan Lottermann
Ingo Lahme - Bass Trombone
Rhythm Section:
Sandra Hempel • Guitar
Ingmar Heller • Bass
Florian Weber • Piano, Rhodes
Marcio Doctor • Percussion
Special guests:
John Hollenbeck • Drums, Timpani
Patricia Brennan • Vibraphone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Crotales, Timpani
Matt Moran • Vibraphone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Tapan
JC Sanford • Conductor
Tracklist:
1. Opening
2. Cool Code (featuring Percy Pursglove)
3. Entitlement (featuring Frank Delle, Dan Gottshall, Matt Moran and Ingmar Heller)
4. Marimba Hocket (featuring Patricia Brennan, Julius Gawlik and Luigi Grasso)
5. Shaking Peace (featuring Florian Weber and Matt Moran)
6. Drum Hocket (featuring Sandra Hempel and Fiete Felsch)
7. Owts Hgis (featuring Florian Weber)
8. Pure Poem
9. Sum (featuring Klaus Heidenreich, Julius Gawlik and Florian Weber)