Recorded and mixed on analog tape, MOPDtK combines historical jazz lineage and the 21st century perspective of MOPDtK's members (Jon Irabagon; Ron Stabinsky; Moppa Elliott; Kevin Shea), with each piece dedicated to an individual who influenced their compositional process.
Label: Hot Cup Records Catalog ID: Hot Cup 153 Squidco Product Code: 21224
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2015 Country: USA Packaging: Digipack recorded at Oktavian Audio in Yonkers, New York, on May 23rd, 2015, by Ryan Streber.
"Mauch Chunk combines historical jazz lineage and the 21st century perspective of MOPDtK's members. To emulate the sound of classic jazz recordings of the 1950s and 60s, the release was recorded and mixed on analog tape. The project also embraces the traditional idea of albums being under 50 minutes long.
The classic albums of the jazz canon were constrained by the LP format, but benefit from their conciseness and focus. Each of the compositions on this album bears a dedication to an individual who influenced the compositional process in some way. Some of these influences are musical, while others pertain to places in Pennsylvania or specific towns that relate to the dedicatee.
"Mauch Chunk is Jim Thorpe," dedicated to Henry Threadgill and his composition "Spotted Dick is Pudding," is a harmonically rich minor-key shuffle with a major-key bridge a whole step lower than the initial theme. Stabinsky's piano solo is over the minor key section of the form that changes to the major under Irabagon's saxophone solo and recalls the harmony of "All of Me." After a return of the initial theme, the tune ends with an improvised section that includes references to composer Conlon Nancarrow and a spontaneous Picardy third.
This performance encapsulates the MOPDtK approach to ensemble interplay, balancing "conflict and collaboration" between the members of the quartet."-Hot Cup