Otterville Archive

Andrew Downing, cello & group – Otterville

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 9, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Andrew Downing – Otterville – Self-Produced 2 CDs, 69:01 (Avail. as an MP3 download on Amazon) ***: A questionable premise delivers questionable results. (Andrew Downing – cello; Tara Davidson – alto saxophone; Michael Davidson – vibraphone; Christine Bougie – lap steel guitar; Paul Mathew – bass guitar; Nick Fraser – drums; Guests: Rebecca Hennessy – trumpet; William Carn – trombone) One has to wonder why young musicians, who in today’s competitive music environment, put themselves and their questionable ideas on the line to gain an audience. This is especially relevant, where the concept is well beyond the mainstream. Composer/cellist Andrew Dowling, has done just that with his newest self-produced release entitled Otterville. In this 2 CD set, with three exceptions, all of the compositions are by Andrew Dowling. The construct or conceit if you will, is that each piece contains a small excerpt from a jazz standard or the Great American Songbook, from which a unique new composition is built. In Mission Impossible terms, the challenge for you dear reader/listener, if you chose to accept it, is to find this snippet and determine how it fits within the new frame that Downing has built. “This Year’s Fancies” which opens CD […]