“Taking the angular bravado of Charles Mingus and re-imagining it for the
21st century, this 17-piece jazz orchestra
from New York brings it full-force on their album of original, unique
compositions. With stab-tone sectionals and
blazing solos, “Edge of the Mind” displays an energetic big band who has
evolved to a place where they can
make musical violence sound romantic.” - CD Baby (where we are an Editor’s
Pick for Jazz)
“These are in essence thought-provoking works that commands one's
unwavering awareness and consideration.
If due diligence is given, the rewards can be sizable…It's an ample meal…
easily digested by epicures.” - All About Jazz
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“Taking the angular bravado of Charles Mingus and re-imagining it for the
21st century, this 17-piece jazz orchestra
from New York brings it full-force on their album of original, unique
compositions. With stab-tone sectionals and
blazing solos, “Edge of the Mind” displays an energetic big band who has
evolved to a place where they can
make musical violence sound romantic.” - CD Baby (where we are an Editor’s
Pick for Jazz)
“These are in essence thought-provoking works that commands one's
unwavering awareness and consideration.
If due diligence is given, the rewards can be sizable…It's an ample meal…
easily digested by epicures.” - All About Jazz
“These guys are carving out their own territory in the realm of the modern
jazz orchestra. The music is full of lights
and shadows, twists and turns, and affords plenty of surprises. Definitely
worth checking out!” - Jim McNeely
“Their band and their writing combine to make a valuable contribution to our
field. May they continue and prosper!”
- Bob Brookmeyer
“The orchestration is on point. Sounds great!” - Branford Marsalis
“An intriguing, varied and demanding package, to which this orchestra
responds, in typical New York fashion,
with awesome fire and precision” - Irish Times
“The music that the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly creates is
intelligent, vital, very well-played and
most assuredly good for your mind and soul” - Hartford Courant
“...pushes the envelope, finding yet more new places where big band jazz can
go... nothing short of fascinating.
This is very cerebral music. Yet it's also breathtakingly beautiful in places for
many, many reasons...” - Lucid Culture
“This is a natural and organic record...thick, exciting, haunting, and
frequently audacious. Sound Assembly has forged
a brave set of numbers with Edge of the Mind (and) created something
special.” - Blogcritics Magazine
“This large ensemble produces an exciting modern jazz sound propelled by
intelligent charts and flawless execution
by a first-rate cast of musicians.” - Ejazz News
“All around, this is one of the richest albums I've listened to in 2009, & gets a
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me.
I expect (& you should too) to hear a lot more from these folks... they're ON
IT!” - Dick Metcalf aka Rotcod Zzaj
“Following the rules of the past but not swallowing the dictates blindly, this
17 piece jazz orchestra...knows how to
kick out the jams and do it for contemporary ears. Traditional and forward
thinking are never far away.
A real treat for big sound deprived ears.” - Midwest Record
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