Five Plus Six’s debut recording titled Such Sweet Thunder was released on January 6 from Shade Street Records. Led by Knoxville Jazz Orchestra founder/director Vance Thompson, the album pays homage to jazz legends Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Thelonious Monk while also blending in completely divergent genre tracks such as country music icon Dolly Parton’s “Little Sparrow.” The 11-piece band merges Thompson’s principal quintet with six additional horns. The quintet includes Thompson on the trumpet, Greg Tardy on the tenor saxophone, Keith Brown on the piano, Taylor Coker playing the bass and Nolan Nevels on the drums.
The opening track is titled “Pannonica.” Its intro is incredibly fast-paced with heavy drumming from Nevels and then Thompson’s trumpet and Tardy’s tenor sax blaze in with full force jazzing up this Monk staple.
The band’s rendition of the Dolly Parton song “Little Sparrow” is the album’s third track. Parton won the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for this song in 2001. When Thompson first heard it he “fell in love with the simplicity of her original version of the song,” but then realized that it could be taken in many different musical directions without altering its potency. With Thompson’s resounding trumpet work and Tardy’s flawless tenor sax intro, the scatting produced turns this country song into a true jazz beauty. Plus, the addition of Coker’s bass play and Nevels’ light drumming in the background really puts the track over the top.
”Isfahan” is the album’s second track. This Billy Strayhorn composition is reimagined with a blues vibe as Thompson’s trumpet, Tardy’s tenor sax and Coker’s bass play create a cool rhythm. In addition, Tardy’s gripping tenor sax solos are assured to draw listeners into the track’s hypnotic melody.
The title track is the album’s fifth track and the band’s version of the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn 1957 suite. Yet, their rendition has an unmistakably ethnic tone in the form of an Afro-Cuban vibe, but it then seamlessly flows into a traditional yet equally danceable swing beat. Its repetitive intro of Thompson’s trumpet mixed with Coker’s bass is enthralling and with Nevels’ drum work in the background listeners could envision this track playing at a saucy Latin club where the dance floor is full with teeming bodies and the drinks are steadily flowing.
“Prelude to a Kiss” is the album’s sixth track. This Ellington classic was arranged by Brown. While Brown’s piano play is melodious and soulful at the same time, later in the track, Brown stops his skilled tickling of the ivories and picks up a Fender Rhodes so he can strum in some super sexy harmonies.
In conclusion, Such Sweet Thunder from Five Plus Six includes tracks a true jazz music aficionado will adore while also catering to those outside the genre looking to add some variety and a touch of spice to their musical library.