Johnston, Darren – Gone to Chicago – “Big Lift, The” – [Porto Franco Records]

Train Wreck   11/9/2011   CD, Jazz

Darren Johnston is a Canadian born trumpet player who moved to San Francisco in 1997. He has been traveling to Chicago two times a year for the past four years. Over this time he met the musicians he plays with on this album. Jeb Bishop on Trombone, Jason Adasiewicz on Vibraphone, Nate McBride on Bass and Frank Rosaly on Drums. The album was recorded in Chicago at Strobe Recording Studio and released on Porto Franco Records located in San Francisco.

Track 1 has a kind of noise jazz feel to it with lots of sounds that clash yet some how all work together. Track 2 has a very subtle almost Film Noir sound. Track 6 surprised me with a Big Band, swing feel. Some tracks 3,4, and a lot on 7 have moments of two instruments playing with each other, almost as if they are having a conversation where they talk over one another.

Train Wreck