Audio Review: The Solitude Sessions by the Sencalar Glassman Quintet

The Solitude Sessions (2020)
SGQ Records
Altin Sencalar: Tenor Trombone
Chris Glassman: Bass Trombone
Luther Allison: Piano (Bolivia only)
Addison Frei: Piano (Each Step only)
Nathan Borton: Guitar
Brandon Rose: Acoustic Bass
Zach Adleman: Drum Set
Liany Mateo: Acoustic Bass (Peanut Brittle Brigade only)
Michael Reed: Drum Set (Peanut Brittle Brigade only)

Coming off their debut album Realization in January 2020,  the Sencalar Glassman Quintet was not derailed from the Pandemic’s lockdown of in-person recording and performing. Using their audio and visual savvy, Altin Sencalar and Chris Glassman brought their quintet together in a unique, albeit remote, setting to keep the music alive. Recording all the music in each musician’s home studio, the Sencalar Glassman Quintet have released their EP The Solitude Sessions, which features arrangements and original compositions from members of the quintet.

Starting off with Cedar Walton’s “Bolivia,” Sencalar and Glassman show off their signature crispness in a flair that is expected when recording in studio together … but remember, this was all done remotely. Pianist Luther Allison soars up and down the keyboard while both Sencalar and Glassman offer melodic lines with nuances resembling much of Walton’s original track.

Next up is guitarist Nathan Borton’s composition “Each Step,” where the trombone duo not only stay in sync with harmony and unisons but also trade choruses where their sound melts into one another leading to a continuous line that gels perfectly with the groove.

The Quintet’s version of “Stardust” is unique in that while often known as a ballad, Sencalar and Glassman bring life back to the Carmichael standard (which was originally recorded at the quicker tempo). With its jovial feel, the Quintet rips through the melody strolling along while tap-dancing around the changes and creating a stroke of joy through this light-hearted arrangement.

Adding a bonus track to this EP, Sencalar and Glassman perform an arrangement of Ellington’s “Peanut Brittle Brigade” that will put any listener in that holiday mood. This being the only track on the EP that includes layered trombone voicing, Sencalar and Glassman showcase their trombone ensemble skills hitting every beat with precision.

All in all, The Solitude Sessions are just what the doctor ordered for experiencing a collegial atmosphere through sound, even though all parts were recorded in multiple spaces. One would never know the Sencalar Quintet were not together from September 2020 to December 2020, but through this EP, the Quintet kept the spirit of music and recording alive in a way that will put them ahead for future albums. If SGQ can be this tightly driven when recording remotely, imagine how in-sync this Quintet will be when the Pandemic subsides and performing for live audiences will begin again.

Tracklist:

• Bolivia: Cedar Walton; Arr: Altin Sencalar
• Each Step: Nathan Borton; Arr: Chris Glassman & Altin Sencalar
• Stardust: Hoagy Carmichael; Arr: Chris Glassman
• Peanut Brittle Brigade: Duke Ellington; Arr: Chris Glassman

Click here to purchase The Solitude Sessions.

Click here to learn more about the Sencalar/Glassman Quintet.