A musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar -- the theatrical production typically runs 120 to 150 minutes -- presented musically in just 37 minutes? Well, that’s exactly what the 17 artists on the curiously named Nubdug Ensemble’s Third do. This San Francisco collective is the “band name and brand name" of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jason Berry, and you needn’t be familiar with the tragic story of the political conspiracy that led to the assassination of the Roman dictator in 44 BC to enjoy this unlikely confluence of prog, rock and jazz. The largely instrumental album was recorded between 2022 and 2024 and features multiple vocalists and such diverse instrumentation as harpsichord, a variety of saxophones, clarinet, glockenspiel, trumpet, flugelhorn, cello and electric sitar guitar. Like the play, there is so much happening here that Third needs to be heard to be fully embraced. Suffice to say that this is both playful and serious, inspiring and intimidating, ambitious and seamless, and melodic and mind-blowing. Bring on the theatrical production!
Track Listing
1. Third Overture
2. But In Ourselves
3. Put It By Thrice
4. The Ladder
5. Count the Clock
6. Portia and the Soothsayer
7. Midmarch
8. This Little Measure
9. Triumvirate
10. The Tide
11. The Ghost at Philippi
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