River City Big Band jazzes it up with in-house charts

“You need to have the clinking of glasses to have a great show,” said Larry Schrum, conductor of River City Big Band describing the Yardbird Suite where the ensemble hosts a concert on Thursday night.

The River City Big Band season draws to a close with Spring Into Jazz, an impressive array of original charts and arrangements from within the group's ranks.

The diverse lineup showcases the depth, beauty, diversity and continuity of the jazz songbook. It explores this broad palette through funk, Latin, swing, jazz pop and shuffle waltz.

It also tips the hat to icons Duke Ellington and Charles Thompson while highlighting contemporary recording musicians such as Germany's funk band Mo'Blow and pop-rock artist Sting.

Three Edmonton jazz writers contribute to the eclectic program. Dr. Allan Gilliland, chair of MacEwan University music department and River City trumpeter, introduces seven original tunes.

“Allan has become a big impetus for us. He is head of composition at Grant MacEwan. We can go to him for ideas and having him in the band has spurred this,” Schrum said.

Modest about his accomplishments, Schrum has written since the '70s, often borrowing inspiration from musicians with a distinct vision. For this concert, he arranges five jazz charts.

And band trombonist Linda Reinholdt, still in the embryonic stages of musical composition, features both an original chart and a transcription.

“We're very proud that we are doing all originals. No other band in Edmonton is doing that. Nothing is store bought. It's all in-house,” says St. Albert trumpeter John Dymianiw.

In addition to blowin' the horn with River City, Dymianiw plies his eclectic skills with Gateway Big Band, New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia, blues band Swing the Cat and all-star dance band Retrofitz.

Dymianiw gets a chance to strut his magic in composer Charles Thompson's Robbin's Nest, a half-time funk shuffle and Duke Ellington's jazz standard I Got it Bad.

On a quicker note, Gilliland's Flying Fingers, a technically challenging tune originally written for a string ensemble, is arranged for the 17-piece band.

“Allan has often done a lot of pieces of ‘serious works' where he turns them around and writes in a jazz band style,” Schrum said.

Gilliland's Bloomsday, a commission written that features primarily drums, is designed to show off River City drummer Andrew Deppisch's driving chops.

Schrum's musical interests lie with the German funk quartet Mo'Blow. Known for their club rhythms, snappy riffs and strong backbeat, they are a bristling addition to any roster.

And Reinhold has composed the polyphonic Cloudy Seas and transcribed Sting's YouTube version of Fragile.

River City has polished its groove for close to two decades and it shows. They have a big, bright program with just enough subtle detail to create the right depth.