In our globalized musical environment, you never know where the next distinctive jazz ensemble (or composer) is going to come from. In the case of the nine-piece little big band Fight the Big Bull, it's Richmond, Va.
Fresh Air's jazz critic reviews Dying Will Be Easy, the debut album from a nonet that traffics in woozy trombones, blurry-edged musical lines, layered melodies and countermelodies, and a throaty, vocalized sound that can almost come across like choral singing.
Dying Will Be Easy, a four-tune album that's barely over a half-hour long, was originally intended to be a demo; it showcases the first four pieces frontman Matt White composed for Fight the Big Bull. (More recent tracks are available on the band's MySpace page.)
Below: Hear the album's title track, courtesy of Song of the Day from NPR Music.
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