Hill's Interstellar Jazz Voyage

by Jeff Becker, Jazz Sensibilities

November 6, 2024

Listening to Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill is akin to stepping into an astral observatory. It’s an expedition of sound, and at its helm are the genre-bending compositions of Gregg Hill, shaped into a constellation of creativity by trombonist Michael Dease and his dynamic ensemble. Dease serves as the captain of this vessel, but the true gravitational force here is Hill’s writing imagination—a strength that beckons listeners into jazz territories yet unexplored. Released on September 20, 2024, under Origin Records, this album marks the latest installment of an ambitious artistic dialogue that is part cosmic exploration, part homage.

Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill is a rich, expansive, and unique compositional journey. Through its ten tracks, Hill invites us into a universe where jazz is our spacecraft in an interstellar voyage—bound by the gravitational pull of the jazz tradition, yet free to explore uncharted dimensions of other genres’ tug. Michael Dease and his ensemble shine here, acting as both explorers and navigators—interpreting Hill’s cosmic charts with precision, passion, and an ever-present sense of wonder. Like space itself, Gregg Hill’s compositions are full of possibilities, with each listen offering new stars to discover.