THELONIOUS MONK

Thelonious Monk Orchestra

AT TOWM HALL

"Friday The 13th”

The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall is an album by Thelonious Monk, originally released in 1959. The concert included Hall Overton’s arrangements on Monk’s tunes (including a transcription of Monk's piano solo on "Little Rootie Tootie").

The concert features, among others, Charlie Rouse on tenor in his first of several recordings with Monk.

Thelonious Monk, piano with Donald Byrd, trumpet; Eddie Bert, trombone; Robert Northern, French horn; Jay McCallister, tuba; Phil Woods, alto sax; Charlie Rouse, tenor sax; Pepper Adams, baritone sax; Sam Jones, bass; and Art Taylor, drums. Arrangement by Hall Overton, recorded Feb. 28, 1959.

ILLINOIS JACQUET

Illinois Jacquet & His Big Band

Jacquet's Got It

Blues From Louisiana ·

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

The Illinois Jacquet big band has been together on a part-time basis for over a decade, yet this is still its only recording. Fortunately, it is a very good one, displaying its leader's love for hard-swinging and exciting performances. The featured sidemen include trombonist Frank Lacy, trumpeters Irv Stokes and Jon Faddis, clarinetist Rudy Rutherford and pianist Richard Wyands, but the great tenor's solos and the exuberant sound of the ensembles are most notable. With arrangements by Wild Bill Davis, Eddie Barefield and Phil Wilson, the highlights include "Tickletoe," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Three Buckets of Jive"; in reality, all eight selections are rewarding. Recommended.

Illinois Jacquet

Arranger, Composer, Leader, Performer, Primary Artist, Sax (Tenor), Soloist

Eddie Barefield

Arranger, Composer, Sax (Tenor)

Milt Hinton

Bass

Joey Cavaseno

Clarinet, Sax (Alto), Soloist

Rudy Rutherford

Clarinet, Sax (Baritone), Soloist

Duffy Jackson

Drums, Soloist

Richard Wyands

Piano, Soloist

Illinois Jacquet & His Big Band

Primary Artist

Marshall Royal

Sax (Alto), Soloist

Babe Clarke

Sax (Tenor)

Art Baron

Soloist, Trombone

Frank Lacy

Soloist, Trombone

Jon Faddis

Soloist, Trumpet

Irv Stokes

Soloist, Trumpet

Freddy Joiner

Trombone

Fred Jointer

Trombone

Kiane Zawadi

Trombone

Johnny Grimes

Trumpet

Henry Scott

Trumpet

DIMARTINO/OSLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA

DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra

Speak Low - Kurt Weill, 

arranged by Tom Kubis

Vince DiMartino was a distinguished professor of trumpet at the University of Kentucky's Jazz Studies Program for twenty years, and saxophonist Miles Osland is its current director. Together these two educators have collaborated for many years, founding of The DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra. Through its performances and recordings, it has become a fixture in the central Kentucky area. Quotient is the group's first offering since Off The Charts (Sea Breeze, 2001), and from the sounds of this one, there is indisputable evidence that the duo's formula for riveting big band music, has worked its magic once again.

There's plenty of good material here with this album, as it contains 79-plus minute of exciting big band music and a repertoire of fifteen select standards, some familiar and others less so but all still enticing enough. From the loud and boisterous rendition of Artie Shaw's "Begin the Beguine" to the energetic jumpy arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker's "Anthropology" and Tom Kubis' killer arrangement of the time-honored classic ,"Speak Low," featuring a torrid

alto solo from Osland, there are more than enough fiery pieces to keep the toes tapping and the fingers snapping.

Other mid- to high-temperature charts not to be missed include Frank Mantooth's arrangement of "Mean To Me," featuring a light intro from bassist Danny Cecil with Osland on the flute, a burst from the brass and eventually engaged by DiMartino on the trumpet. Another is Mike Tomaro's "A Sideward Glance," where Osland takes the alto saxophone for one emotional ride. DiMartino holds center court with a marvelous performance as his trumpet voice leads the band in a somber read of "My Funny Valentine."

Vocalist Angie Ortega weighs in on Bob Mintzer's upbeat, hand-clapping "TV Blues," which also showcases pianist Raleigh Dailey. She also sings to the Gershwin brothers "I've Got A Crush On You," the disc's other vocal piece. The only true ballad in is Mantooth's "Erica," where DiMartino is heard on both trumpet and flugelhorn, laying down various gentle lines. The co-leaders step aside on the blistering "Late Shift Blues," as Gordon Towell's tenor and Rick Cook's trumpet provide the leading voices on this sensational number.

For those aficionados of the big band genre used to the sounds of the famous West Coast jazz orchestras and the East Coast monster bands, take note for there's a formidable near-Midwestern ensemble that packs quite a wallop and deserves attention. The DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra delivers a brassy and spectacular hard-driving performance on Quotient, making this album a joy for those who crave big band orchestrations and superb solos throughout.

Personnel: Vince DiMartino: trumpet, flugelhorn; Miles Osland: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Larry Nelson: alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Doug Drewek: alto saxophone; Gordon Towell: tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Dave Anderson: tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Lisa Osland: baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet; Rich Byrd: trumpet, flugelhorn; Rick Cook: trumpet, flugelhorn; Mark Clodfelter: trumpet, flugelhorn; Greg Wing: trumpet, flugelhorn; David Henderson: trombone; Jim Grubbs: trombone; Brad Kerns: trombone; Jeanie Lee: trombone; Louis "Hap" Bourgois: bass trombone; Raleigh Dailey: piano; Danny Cecil: bass; John Willmarth: drums, Jim Cambell: percussion; Anders Astrand: vibes, percussions

MILES DAVIS - GIL EVANS

Gil Evans' Arrangement of "My Ship"

My brain is too old and addeled to really get into this and I have forgotten the rest, but its very cool. I’m sure many will enjoy it

Miles Ahead is an album by Miles Davis that was released in 1957 by Columbia Records. It was Davis' first collaboration with arranger Gil Evans following the Birth of the Cool sessions. Along with their subsequent collaborations Porgy and Bess (1959) and Sketches of Spain (1960), Miles Ahead is one of the most famous recordings of Third Stream, a fusion of jazz, European classical, and world musics.^[2] Davis played flugelhorn throughout.

• Miles Davis – Flugelhorn

• Bernie Glow – Lead trumpet

• Ernie Royal – Trumpet

• Louis Mucci – Trumpet

• Taft Jordan – Trumpet

• John Carisi – Trumpet

• Frank Rehak – Trombone

• Jimmy Cleveland – Trombone

• Joe Bennett – Trombone

• Tom Mitchell – Bass trombone

• Willie Ruff – French Horn

• Tony Miranda – French Horn

• Jim Buffington - French horn

• Bill Barber – Tuba

• Lee Konitz – Alto sax

• Danny Bank – Bass clarinet

• Romeo Penque – flute and clarinet

• Sid Cooper – Flute and clarinet

• Paul Chambers – double bass

• Art Taylor – Drums

• Wynton Kelly - piano

• Gil Evans – Arranger and Conductor

JON FADDIS - JACK SHELDON

JACK SHELDON

JON FADDIS 

"Cottontail". 1985

OK, I’ve seen Faddis numerous times both live and on videos. But these is something Ive never noticed. Check out his embouchure.  one side of the mouthpiece looks entirely different the the other.   Any thoughts.

CHARLES MINGUS

CHARLES MINGUS

Blues & Politics

Haitian Fight Song

The MBB has become the most important and virile "ghost band" of them all. Their roaring, swinging spirit echoes the late bassist/composer/bandleader in ways that compare favorably to when Mingus was alive. The musicianship, rotating as it tends to, is consistently and outrageously outstanding, the new arrangements of classic Mingus tunes are fresh and vibrant as ever, and solos absolutely riveting. For this time around the band includes lead trumpeter Earl Gardner, lead alto/soprano saxophonist Alex Foster, and prominent soloists include tenor saxophonists Mark Shim, Seamus Blake, and John Stubblefield; trumpeters Randy Brecker and Alex Sipiagin; baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber; trombonist Conrad Herwig; alto saxophonists Bobby Watson and Vincent Herring; and arrangements by Michael Mossman, Sy Johnson, Howard Johnson, and Steve Slagle. Mingus himself speaks during the introductory "It Was a Lonely Day in Selma, Alabama," then the band chants and claps to "Freedom," certainly a prolific tone setter. "Haitian Fight Song" has bassist Boris Kozlov leading the angst-riddled charge, the piece played to perfection. The classic ode to Lester Young "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is accented by tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake's patient, poignant solo and the band's pristine reading of Sy Johnson's new chart. "Don't Let It Happen Here," with its tango-flavored fanfare and son Eric Mingus' recitation, rivals the original. "Meditations for a Pair of Wire Cutters" has all the dynamic stop-start Mingus traits, "Pussycat Dues," is a pretty straight by comparison blues, "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me" has Eric Mingus returning on the slow blues that still has relevance today as he shouts "don't let 'em drop it, stop it, be-bop it," and the 16-minute finale "Little Royal Suite" is so Ellingtonian in flavor, a full-bore swinger that lets the band, especially soloists Sipiagin, Stubblefield, and Herring running wild out of their cages. To interpret Mingus' music so faithfully and with such great authenticity and zeal is not an easy task. Another triumph for this ensemble, easily a Top Five jazz album of 1999, an essential purchase. Much more could be written or said, but Mingus and the band speak much louder than words.

- All Music Review -

Charles Mingus

Bass, Composer, Guest Artist, Leader, Liner Notes, Narrator, Performer, Primary Artist, Reeds, Vocals

Boris Koslov

Bass, Rhythm

Andy McKee

Bass, Rhythm

Boris Kozlov

Bass

Johnathan Blake

Drums, Rhythm

Gene Jackson

Drums, Rhythm

Alex Sipiagin

Flugelhorn, Primary Artist, Trumpet

Alex Foster

Flute, Primary Artist, Reeds, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)

Conrad Herwig

Flute, Sax (Alto), Soprano, Trombone

Dannie Richmond

Guest Artist, Narrator, Performer, Primary Artist

Jaki Byard

Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist

Charles McPherson

Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist

Charles MacPherson

Narrator, Sax (Alto)

Akili Jamal Mshauri Haynes

Narrator, Trombone

John Hicks

Piano, Rhythm

Dave Kikoski

Piano, Rhythm

Vincent Herring

Primary Artist, Reeds, Sax (Alto)

Seamus Blake

Primary Artist, Reeds, Sax (Tenor)

John Stubblefield

Primary Artist, Reeds, Sax (Tenor)

Randy Brecker

Primary Artist, Trumpet

Earl Gardner

Primary Artist, Trumpet

Mingus Big Band

Primary Artist

Bobby Watson

Reeds, Sax (Alto)

Mark Shim

Reeds, Sax (Tenor)

Ronnie Cuber

Reeds

Alex Haynes

Sax (Alto)

David Taylor

Trombone, Trombone (Bass), Tuba

TERRY GIBBS

TERRY GIBBS

Dream Band

"Billie's Bounce”

If there ever was a band deserving of the name Dream Band this was it. All you have to do is look at the personnel and you will know it.  It must have been a hell of a lot of fun to play in too, not just the music which was written by some of the very best in the country but also the players. Can you imagine a band with Frank Rosolino, Med Flory and Terry Gibbs. How they ever were able to get it together enough to play is beyond me, 

The Big Cat : Terry Gibbs' Dream Band, Volume 5 :

 Al Porcino, Ray Triscari, Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, Frank Huggins (tp) Frank Rosolino, Bob Edmondson, Vern Friley (tb) Joe Maini, Charlie Kennedy (as) Richie Kamuca, Bill Perkins (ts) Jack Nimitz (bar) Terry Gibbs (vib) Pat Moran (p) Buddy Clark (b) Mel Lewis (d)

CECILIA COLEMAN

CECILIA COLMAN CIG BAND:

Magpie 

----All Music----
The phrase "Oh boy," can be a statement of excitement, an expression of an event that grabs your attention or, in this case, an appropriate reaction to the swinging orchestrations from the Cecilia Coleman Big Band. Oh Boy! is a powerful draw and the debut album from pianist/composer Coleman's new group, presenting thundering big band music of a contemporary nature. Best known for her various working quintet's that have produced five albums since 1992, Coleman formed the group in January 2010 after writing several big band charts for others which in turn, inspired a rehearsal band of her own.

No novice to the large ensemble setting, the pianist previously recorded with the Mark Masters Ensemble of the American Jazz Institute. Though a longtime resident of New York City, Coleman is actually a native of Long Beach, CA, where she commutes regularly to teach at California State University at Long Beach. The Coleman band consists of friends and other musicians she has worked with since 1999, and boasts some of the finest players from the New York area. With renowned saxophonists Peter Brainin and Bobby Porcelli among the mix of musicians that also includes tenorist Stan Killian trombonists Matt McDonald, Sam Burtis and Broadway trumpeter Jeff Wilfore.

Playing a few simple bars and disguising what's to come, Coleman introduces "Liar, Liar," a truthfully explosive piece featuring Frank Basile' s blistering baritone saxophone solo, to brassy accompaniment. The enthralling "Dance" follows with the same electricity, delivering another forceful statement and readily affirming the album's muscular sound. "Magpie" is a sprawling, melody-rich sweet tune, with pronounced voices from the reeds and horns in a more mid-tempo arrangement.

"Lonesome Journey" is the project's most sophisticated and ambitious piece, containing its share of twists and turns throughout the almost ten-minute duration. The title track reveals the swinging upbeat and lively texture that made it the disc's natural title choice. All is not swing however, as the balladic "Until Then" and the lightly-structured "Because" offer a departure from the main thrust of the album, as well as featuring brief but sparkling solo work from the pianist.

Cecilia Coleman never set out to become a big band leader, stating that it was "never a dream of mine to have a big band," but the Cecilia Coleman Big Band is her new reality—and Oh Boy!, what a swinging affair, this very first recording effort turns out to be. This is classic big band music infused with a bolt of raw energy and mounds of excitement.

 Jeff Wilfore, Hardin Butcher, Kerry MacKillop, John Eckert (tp) Don Sickler (tp-1) Matt McDonald, Mike Fahn, Sam Burtis, Joe Randazzo (tb) Bobby Porcelli, Stephan Kammerer (fl,as) Peter Brainin (sop) Geoff Vidal, Stan Killian (ts) Frank Basile (bar) Cecilla Coleman (p) Tim Givens (b) Jeff Brillinger (d)

ROB PARTON

ROB PARTON  BIG BAND
Featuring Leslie Beukelman


One of the very best bands in Chicago until Rob left town a few years ago. Everyone is still playing including Leslie.

Ken Partyka - Alto

Matt Whitler - Alto

Alex Beltran - Tenor

Bill Overton - Tenor

Jerry DiMuzio - Bari

Trombone:
Dan Johnson

Tim Kaufman

Tom Garling

John Blane

Trumpets:

Rob Parton

Marques Carroll

Scott Wagstaff

Sam Lawrenson

Rhythm Section:
Tim Fox- Bass

Kevin O’Connell - Piano

Mike Pinto - Guitar

BobRummage - Drums

Leslie Beukelman - Vocals

CHICAGO SKYLINERS

BILL O’CONNELL
Chicago Skyliners

West Side Story

The Skyliners here are doing a great performance of Buddy Rich’s West Side Story with some of the top musicians in the city.

Saxes:

Ken Partyka - alto

Andy Schlinder - alto

Jarod Bufe - tenor

Alex Beltran - tenor

Steve Schnall - Bari

Tromboner:

John Mose

Dan Johnson

Adam Gross

Ryan Miller

Trumpets:

Mike McGrath

Drew Hanson

Brian Finn

Nick Grill

Rhythm Section:

Carl Kennedy - piano

Keith Brady - Bass

Bill O’Connell - Drums, Leader