Dan Pugach Nonet “Plus One”

 

Pugach goes from strength to strength on Plus One, the album showcasing his beautifully intricate compositions, peerless arrangements and yes, his drumming, which is funky, on-point and surprisingly restrained for a musician of such skills and gifts. Dan’s arrangements for Nonet recall the classic sounds of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Bob Mintzer, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra–expressed in a far smaller ensemble. Deft compositions, challenging arrangements, brilliant players and Dan’s silken rhythmic touch make Plus One a special outing.

 

Dan Pugach is a Brooklyn-based, two-time ASCAP Jazz Composer Award-winning drummer/arranger. Dan has worked with Ingrid Jensen, Rosa Passos, Airto Moreira, Gregoire Maret, Billy Drews, Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Bergeron, Sloan and Lucy Wainwright, and Dave Stryker, among others. Originally from Israel, Dan served his mandatory three-year military duty as the drummer of the Air-Force Orchestra. He received his bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music and his master’s from the City College of New York, where he studied with Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, John Patitucci, Terri Lyne Carrington and Ari Hoenig.

 

“The writing is on point, sharp, concise and so is everybody’s playing. Beautiful album.”

— Antonio Sanchez

 

“His mastery of the music from the subtle inner workings of his horn orchestrations to his command over shaping larger musical statements puts Dan in a league of his own.”

— Alan Ferber

 

“While the versatile band certainly deserves kudos, it’s Pugach’s dynamic drumming that allows so many seemingly disparate styles to cohere into a warm, singular sound”

— Keaton Lamle, Modern Drummer Magazine 

 

“I can’t gush enough about the joyful energy that Dan and his Nonet express in the most open of ways. Dan’s music is thoughtful, exciting and immensely engaging…”

—Ingrid Jensen

 

“Pugach is an ace composer and arranger. It is pretty incredible to realized that Plus One is the drummer’s debut album. It sounds fully formed and completely evolved. - All About Jazz

 

David Smith – trumpet

Mike Fahie – trombone

Jen Hinkle – bass trombone

Andrew Gould – alto sax/flute

Jeremy Powell – tenor sax/clarinet

Andrew Gutauskas – baritone sax/bass clarinet

Nicole Zuraitis – voice

Brad Whiteley – piano

Leo Sherman – bass

Dan Pugach – drums