“The band's trombone/trumpet/alto sax front line paints lush chordal sketches reminiscent of classical composer Oliver Messiaen and Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, while the piano-less rhythm section provides roiling support worthy of John Zorn's Masada," wrote Ben Taylor in a recent Time Out Chicago preview piece. “Herculaneum doesn't just coast on fluid soloing and intuitive interplay--it's got solid original material, expansively arranged to sound bigger than a quintet. It's refreshing to hear younger players with the chops and discipline necessary to push things forward while keeping an eye on the past, and Herculaneum has the potential to grow into something quite special."
Herculaneum is Nick Broste (trombone), Greg Danek (bass), David McDonnell (alto saxophone and clarinet), Patrick Newbery (trumpet), and Dylan Ryan (drums and vibraphone), a conglomeration of players who have collectively performed with a wide variety of other Chicago-based jazz, improvised music and experimental rock bands. The Chicago Reader's Peter Margasak writes that the band has “arrived at a surprisingly agile and elegant sound," adding, “the musicians are equally inventive as writers, arrangers and improvisers, and they make excellent use of tight, varied horn charts to both propel and provide counterpoint to whoever's soloing." Orange Blossom is the follow-up to the group's eponymous self-released 2004 debut.
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