Newport Jazz 2011: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Live In Concert

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Dan Willis, on tenor saxophone, performs with the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble on the Quad Stage during the Newport Jazz Festival.

Erik Jacobs for NPR

Dan Willis, on tenor saxophone, performs with the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble on the Quad Stage during the Newport Jazz Festival.

Erik Jacobs for NPR

As a drummer, John Hollenbeck is astoundingly precise and creative with his beatmaking. As a composer, he's going after something akin to that: The regulated insistence of classical minimalism with the flexible color palette of jazz, plus a healthy dose of demented dry humor. And with vocalists Theo Bleckmann and Kate McGarry both signed on for the gig, as well as guest soloist Uri Caine on piano, he had some special covers up his sleeve for his Large Ensemble's Newport set on the rainy Quad Stage.

Personnel: John Hollenbeck, drums; Dave Ballou, trumpet; Jon Owens, trumpet; Laurie Frink, trumpet; Tony Kadleck, trumpet; Alan Ferber, trombone; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Mike Christianson, trombone; Rob Hudson, trombone; Tony Malaby, tenor saxophone/reeds; Dan Willis, tenor saxophone/winds; Jeremy Viner, reeds; Ben Kono, alto saxophone/winds; Bohdan Hilash, bass saxophone/reeds; Uri Caine, piano/organ; Kermit Driscoll, basses; Patricia Franceschy, percussion; Theo Bleckmann, voice; Kate McGarry, voice; J.C. Sanford, conductor.