Ari Hoenig's NY Standard project reimagines jazz classics through a contemporary lens, and this 2015 rendition of Miles Davis's "Boplicity" (credited to Cleo Henry, a pseudonym for Davis and Gil Evans) showcases the drummer's gift for creative reinterpretation. Gilad Hekselman delivers two inventive electric guitar choruses through the 32-bar AABA form, his modern harmonic sensibility and fluid technique bringing a fresh perspective to the Cool Jazz-era composition. Orlando Le Fleming follows with a half-chorus of acoustic bass that demonstrates his melodic approach to the instrument. The arrangement transforms the original's cool, arranged chamber-jazz texture into something more open and interactive, reflecting the conversational aesthetic that defines Hoenig's approach to bandleading. The medium-swing tempo allows the musicians to explore the tune's sophisticated harmonies with care and detail, and the intimate group interplay is a hallmark of Hoenig's recordings. The NY Standard project draws from the vast repertoire of jazz standards, and the choice of "Boplicity" is characteristically adventurous, as the tune is better known as an arranged ensemble piece than as a vehicle for improvisation. Hoenig and his collaborators prove that it can serve both purposes admirably.
