BILL BERRY'S L.A. BIG BAND

BILL BERRY
L.A. BIG BAND

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AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Although a bit overlooked at the time (especially on the East Coast), Bill Berry's L.A. Big Band was one of the finest jazz orchestras of the mid- to late '70s. The all-star unit unfortunately recorded much too little, just one album for cornetist Berry's Beez label and this lone Concord set. The power and joyful swing of the all-star unit can certainly be heard on the latter, which was recorded at the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival. Solo space is allocated to Berry; trumpeters Jack Sheldon (who also sings "Tulip or Turnip"), Blue Mitchell, and Cat Anderson; trombonists Tricky Lofton, Jimmy Cleveland, and Britt Woodman; tenor saxophonists Richie Kamuca and Don Menza; and pianist Dave Frishberg, among others, and one should not overlook the lead alto work by Marshall Royal. This was certainly a remarkable unit. Berry modeled the band after Duke Ellington's and his rendition of "Cotton Tail" (with high note blasts in the "background" by Cat Anderson) is a classic. Highly recommended.

Monty Budwig

Bass

Frank Capp

Drums

Bill Berry

Performer, Primary Artist, Trumpet

Dave Frishberg

Piano

Lanny Morgan

Sax (Alto), Saxophone

Marshall Royal

Sax (Alto), Saxophone

Jack Nimitz

Sax (Baritone), Saxophone

Richie Kamuca

Sax (Tenor), Saxophone

Don Menza

Sax (Tenor), Saxophone

Jimmy Cleveland

Trombone

Tricky Lofton

Trombone

Benny Powell

Trombone

Britt Woodman

Trombone

Cat Anderson

Trumpet

Gene Coe

Trumpet

Gene Goe

Trumpet

Blue Mitchell

Trumpet

Jack Sheldon

Trumpet