Black Dahlia
Composer, arranger, and tenor saxophonist Bob Belden's 12-part orchestral tribute to Elizabeth Short recalls her as the "Black Dahlia," the dark-haired Hollywood actress who was killed in 1947. In this moving and moody work Belden evokesMiles Davis,Henry Mancini,Chico O'Farrill, andShorty Rogers. Belden employs an impressive cohort, including trumpetersTim HagansandLew Soloff, tenor saxman Joe Lovano, and pianistsMarc Coplandand Kevin Hays. In this sprawling score they move from the hyper-speed tempo of "Genesis" and theSketches of Spaintinges of "Dream World" and "Zanzibar" to the mistyBilly Strayhorn-like title track and end with "Elegy," which features a rare tenor sax solo by Belden that recalls the elliptical phrases ofWayne Shorter. With this opus Bob Belden begins this century with inspiration and imagination.--Eugene Holley, Jr.