New Release Rack: The Chronicles’ “Spanning the Gap”

WHO: THE CHRONICLES
WITH: Richard James & the Name Changers
WHEN: Friday (October 25), 9pm
WHERE: Red Square, Albany
HOW MUCH: $10 (including a digital download of the new album); +$5 for ages 18-20

The Chronicles weren’t about to fall victim to the infamous sophomore slump. Even though they released their self-titled debut album less than a year ago, they leapt right back into the recording studio, upping their game considerably with the addition of producer Alan Evans, drummer for the soul-jazz groovemeisters Soulive.

And when they emerged from White Lake Music in Albany, they had Spanning the Gap in hand. The Chronicles will be celebrating the release of their new album on Friday night (October 25) at Red Square in Albany. The album – featuring nine new original songs – is the next step in the band’s ever-funky hybridization of hip-hop, jazz and R&B. A digital download of the album is included with each paid admission at the release party. The album will also be available for purchase on vinyl.

Saxophonist Jeff Nania and trombonist Bryan Brundige lead the band, buttressed by keyboardist Tyrone Hartzog, guitarist Justin Henricks, bassist Daniel Lawson and drummer Andrae Surgick. Spanning the Gap also features performances by former Chronicles bandmembers Philippe Chow (trumpet) and Nicholas Lue (piano), as well as special guests Tara Merritt (vocals), Dylan Perrillo (bass), Phil Ducreay (violin) and Iris Mulhern (harp).

Built atop a rock-solid rhythmic foundation, the heavyweight horns fuel the album from the opening funk-bomb strut of “Village Livin” to the short but sweet finale, “Reprise.” While the album is largely instrumental, a few vocal selections – including Tara Merritt’s slinky “Way Back Home” and Jeff Nania’s jazz of jazz rap on the title track, name-checking jazz greats from Louis Armstrong to Terence Blanchard – add considerable sparkle to the grooves.

As Nania reveals in “Spanning the Gap,” “There ain’t a secret potion, and there really ain’t a secret. Information ain’t encoded. It’s on the record in the open…” Yeah, it’s on the record…