Tidal Currents: East Meets West
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
Chronograph Records CR-109 (winnipegjazzorchestra.com/cd-details---tidal-currents--east-meets-west)
Tidal Currents: East Meets West is the latest offering from the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. It’s the seventh release by this ensemble, and fits beautifully into their catalogue without sounding derivative or too similar to their previous recordings. Composers Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen provide the repertoire, based on themes from their respective upbringings on the East and West coasts of Canada. United in the landlocked geographical center of the country, the WJO gives a slick and polished performance of pieces by both composers, featuring soloists from the group as well as Jensen on soprano saxophone.
“Short but sweet” is the best way to describe Tidal Currents, at a runtime of just under 30 minutes. If the group had decided to add an additional track or two, they would not be unwelcomed, but after several listens through the album in its entirety, I’m not left feeling owed anything either. We have gone from an era of 70-plus minute CDs to one focused more around singles and EPs. Whether this programming choice was deliberate or not, Tidal Currents might just be the perfect length to satiate the modern attention span.
It is an impressive feat that the album’s four tracks alternate composers while still functioning together as a suite. This is a testament to both the ensemble playing, and visions of the composers. There is unity throughout an organic set of music, but ample contrast to keep listeners engaged. Albums may be getting shorter, but this means us listeners have no excuse not to digest statements like Tidal Currents in their entirety as intended.
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