Patricia Brennan Septet
Breaking Stretch
Pyroclastic records
On her second outing as a leader, Patricia Brennan expands her core quartet by adding a three-piece horn section. Joining the core group of Brennan on marimba and vibraphone, bassist Kim Cass, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and percussionist Mauricio Herrera, are Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxes, Mark Shim on tenor, and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet and electronics. Brennan says the expanded lineup was inspired by hard driving, horn based rock bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, and Earth Wind and Fire.
The music on Breaking Stretch ranges from the cosmic to the tectonic. The accompanying booklet is illustrated with images from deep space and earthbound volcanic activity. The album opens with ”Los Otros Yo,” a propulsive blast with brass and vibes playing leads, with some electronic manipulations thrown in for good measure. The title track, “Breaking Stretch,” follows with a meandering meditation on the cosmos. Brennan often arranges the horns in short, staccato bursts mirroring the sounds of her vibes. When the horn players break loose, they offer long melodic lines and squalling free improvs. “Mundane” strikes me as something that would have worked well in the soundtrack to 2001: A Space. Odyssey.
