Brian Landrus - Plays Ellington & Strayhorn (2024) [Hi-Res]

Brian Landrus Plays Ellington & Strayhorn features Landrus on a full spectrum of instruments: baritone and bass saxophones, bass and contra alto clarinets, piccolo, and C, alto and bass flutes. With Grammy-winning engineer and producer John Kilgore, he layers his multi-hued voices into a rich and distinctive orchestral sound that harkens to the lush timbres of the classic Ellington Orchestra while displaying an evocative sonic hue all his own. That tonality is given a brilliant foundation by the stellar rhythm section that Landrus has assembled for the occasion: guitarist Dave Stryker, bassist Jay Anderson, and drummer Billy Hart. A mix of familiar classics and more obscure Ellingtonia, Brian Landrus Plays Ellington & Strayhorn is not just a testament to the immortality of these brilliant writers but also to Landrus’ orchestrational vision. The album is a celebration of two of America’s greatest composers, viewed through a fascinating and evocative sonic perspective.