"New Life," a Double-Disc Set of Vibrant Originals from Peter Leitch and his New Life Orchestra (November 20th, Jazz House)

​Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2012, PETER LEITCH was forced to give up a decades long career as a a guitarist and band leader because of his treatment. Although he is unable to play his instrument, he is still driven to create music. Leitch has re-invented himself as a composer, arranger, and director of a 15-piece orchestra. Celebrating this transformation, he has released NEW LIFE, the debut, 2-disc recording by the eponymous PETER LEITCH NEW LIFE ORCHESTRA. It took Leitch two years to compose, arrange, and orchestrate the 17 pieces that comprise this project. In search of a personal voice in writing for a medium-sized ensemble, he was looking for something that sounded like a bigger band but had the freedom and looseness of a small group. The 2-disc set corresponds to 2 sets of music in a club or concert. Although Leitch misses the in-the-moment aspect of being an improvising musician, he has found a new outlet for his endless creativity. His original melodies range from hauntingly beautiful to classically inventive to playful. His orchestrations also have a wide range of colors and textures, from dense and dissonant to light, airy and contrapuntal. His music is fun and challenging for the musician, but more fun for the listener to absorb it all.
 
Disc 1
1. MOOD FOR MAX 6:25
2. PORTRAIT OF SYLVIA 8:28
3. SORTA, KINDA 8:45
4. MONK’S CIRCLE 2:00
5. ROUND MIDNIGHT 8:20
6. PENUMBRA 7:36
7. BRILLIANT BLUE, TWILIGHT BLUE 7:58
8. FULTON STREET SUITE 8:04
 
Disc 2
1. EXHILARATION 7:48
2. ELEVANSES 7:25
3. CLIFFORD JORDAN 6:03
4. BALLAD FOR CHARLES DAVIS 6:18
5. THE MINISTER’S SON 8:00
6. SPRING IS HERE 7:46
7. BACK STORY 8:02
8. TUTWILER 2001 2:15
9. THE LONG WALK HOME 11:16
 
Personnel
DUANE EUBANKS trumpet;  BILL MOBLEY trumpet, flugelhorn
TIM HARRISON flute;  JED LEVY tenor sax, flute, alto flute
STEVE WILSON alto & soprano sax   (Disc 1:  1,3,4,5,6,7   Disc 2:  1,2,5,8)
DAVE PIETRO alto & soprano sax  (Disc 1:  2,6   Disc 2: 3,4,6,9)
CARL MARAGHI baritone sax, bass clarinet;  MATT HAVILAND  trombone
MAX SEIGEL bass trombone;  PHIL ROBSON electric  guitar  
CHAD COE acoustic guitar;  PETER ZAK piano;  DENNIS JAMES arco bass
YOSHI WAKI bass;  JOE STRASSER drums
 
All compositions by Peter Leitch
Except “Round Midnight” (Thelonious Monk), “The Minister’s Son (Jed Levy), “Spring is Here” (Rodgers & Hart)