BILL WATROUS

Bill Watrous, Manhattan Wildlife Refuge
Zip City

1974

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Manhattan Wildlife Refuge and its follow-up, The Tiger of San Pedro, are the only two recordings of trombonist Bill Watrous' impressive big band of the mid-'70s. Watrous, who takes an uncharacteristically crazy cadenza on "Fourth Floor Walk-Up," is in top form on such numbers as Chick Corea's "Spain," "Dichotomy," and "Zip City." Among his more notable sidemen are trumpeter Danny Stiles, guitarist Joe Beck, and pianist Dick Hyman. Available on CD as of July 2007, this reissue has been well worth waiting for.

Credit

Bill Watrous

Arranger, Composer, Primary Artist, Producer, Trombone

John Miller

Bass, Bass (Electric)

Frank Perowsky

Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Charles Lagond

Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Tenor)

Ed Soph

Drums, Percussion

Dick Hyman

Fender Rhodes, Moog Synthesizer, Piano, Piano (Electric), Synthesizer

Danny Stiles

Flugelhorn, Soloist, Trumpet

Dean Pratt

Flugelhorn, Trumpet

George Triffon

Flugelhorn, Trumpet

Alan Gauvin

Flute, Flute (Alto), Sax (Soprano)

Ed Xiques

Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)

Joe Beck

Guitar

Dan Morgenstern

Joe Randazzo

Trombone, Trombone (Bass)

Wayne Andre

Trombone

Joe Petrizzo

Trombone

Charles Small

Trombone

John Gatchell

Trumpet