Coming Through Slaughter: The Bolden Legend

Coming Through Slaughter: The Bolden Legend is the first large ensemble jazz album by composer Dave Lisik. It features trumpeter Tim Hagans, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, trombonist Luis Bonilla, and drummer Matt Wilson. The title and inspiration of the music (multi-movement jazz suite) and recording comes from the novel Coming Through Slaughter from the author Michael Ondaatje.

Background
The recording features experimental music/jazz inspired by the book Coming Through Slaughter. This is performed in a large ensemble format and features a wide range of artists from the United States.

Recording Sessions

 * Spring 2009
 * recorded in Memphis TN, Bloomington, IN and Staten Island, N.Y.

Musicians

 * Conductor/composer: Dave Lisik
 * Trumpet (solo): Tim Hagans
 * Trombone (solo): Luis Bonilla
 * Soprano and tenor saxes (solo): Donny McCaslin
 * Drums (featured): Matt Wilson
 * Soprano sax, alto sax, flute, clarinet (lead): Jack Cooper
 * Alto sax, flute, clarinet: Gary Topper
 * Tenor sax, clarinet: Art Edmaiston
 * Tenor sax, clarinet: Dustin Laurenzi
 * Tenor sax, clarinet: Mike Krepper
 * Bari sax, bass clarinet, tenor sax: Tom Link
 * Trumpet, flugelhorn (lead): Joey Tartell
 * Trumpet, flugelhorn: Marlin McKay
 * Trumpet, flugelhorn: Ryan Imboden
 * Trumpet, flugelhorn: Dave Lisik
 * Horn: Jeff Nelsen
 * Horn: Dan Phillips
 * Trombone (lead): Anthony Williams
 * Trombone: Tony Garcia
 * Trombone: John Grodrian
 * Bass trombone: David Dick
 * Guitar: Corey Christiansen
 * Piano: Amy Rempel
 * Bass: Jeremy Allen
 * Percussion: Joe Galvin

Production

 * Recording: Robert Yugleur and Dave Lisik
 * Mixing: Robert Yugleur, Dave Lisik, and Trevor Jorgensen
 * Additional recording and mastering: Ed Reed
 * Liner notes: Tom Graves

Reception
"...Although one can't know how someone else would have handled the task, Lisik has completed it with flying colors—thanks in part to splendid support from Hagans, McCaslin, Bonilla, Wilson and the ensemble. It must be noted that the album won't suit everyone's taste; it is more cerebral than candid, and its jagged edges can stun the senses and fray the nerves. But Lisik is telling a story, parts of which are ambivalent musically, as they were in life. Weighed on its own terms, Coming Through Slaughter is a well-drawn and admirable work of art."

Jack Bowers, AllAboutJazz.com

"...Evocative orchestral settings like "The Drawings of Audubon" and "Cricket Noises and Cricket Music" inspire Hagans, McCaslin and pianist Amy Rempel ― a CD standout ― to speak more with expressiveness than technical ability, always a good thing when musicians with their virtuosity are involved. Trombonist Luis Bonilla and percussionist Joe Galvin make strong statements on "Auditorium of Enemies," another intriguing composition by Lisik. On Coming Through Slaughter, flawless musicianship finds itself fully engaged with challenging material."

Glen Hall, exclaim.ca

"...Ondaatje's 1976 book draws on what historical record there is, but Lisik, a jazz trumpeter and professor, had no such resource...That turned out to be a good thing, however..." Chris Smith, Winnipeg Free Press