BOB FLORENCE LIMITED EDITION - Serendipity 18

 Serendipity

 Steve Huffsteter, Wayne Bergeron, Rick Baptist, George Graham, Ron Stout, Carl Saunders (tp) Charlie Loper, Alex Iles, Bob McChesney (tb) Don Waldrop (b-tb) Don Shelton (sop,as,cl,fl) Kim Richmond (as,cl,fl) Jeff Driskill, Terry Harrington (ts,cl,fl) Bob Carr (bar,contra-alto-cl) Bob Florence (p,cond) Trey Henry (b) Dick Weller (d)

CARL SAUNDERS - Be Bop Big Band

EMILY

Emily was originally written for Carl Fontana. He died before he had a chance to  record it. Andy Martin plays it here.

Trumpeter Carl Saunders has been leading big bands on a part-time basis ever since he was a youth, including in Los Angeles since 1984. This 1999 recording was the first set by his impressive orchestra. Although several writers contributed charts to the CD (Larry Dominello, Bill Rogers, John Boice, John Hall, and Mike Barone, plus two from Jackson Stock), it is the five arrangements by Herbie Phillips that set the mood for the rewarding project. The late Phillips, a close friend of Saunders from his Las Vegas years, was a talented trumpeter and arranger/composer who loved bebop. There are many highlights through this stirring set, including "Compilation" (a run-through on rhythm changes with solos from Saunders, altoist Lanny Morgan, trombonist Bob McChesney, tenor saxophonist Jerry Pinter, and pianist Christian Jacob), a medium-tempo interpretation of "Emily" (with trombonist Andy Martin), "I'm All for You" (based on "Body and Soul"), "Some Bones of Contention" (featuring the trombones of Martin and McChesney), "Autumn in New York" (which has some beautiful ballad playing by Saunders), "An Apple for Christa" (featuring trumpeter Bob Summers, Morgan, and Martin), and "Baby Blues." In reality, all 12 selections have their moments of interest, the musicianship of the band is quite impressive, and the music always swings. Highly recommended, this is one of the best big band albums of the early 21st century.

Kevin Axt     Bass
Carl Saunders     Composer, Primary Artist, Producer
Christian Jacob     Piano
Lanny Morgan     Sax (Alto)
Brian Scanlon     Sax (Alto)
Bob Efford     Sax (Baritone)
Jerry Pinter     Sax (Tenor)
Doug Webb     Sax (Tenor)
Charles Loper     Trombone
Andrew Martin     Trombone
Bob McChesney     Trombone
Scott Englebright     Trumpet
Bobby Shew     Trumpet
Ron Stout     Trumpet
Bob Summers     Trumpet
Frank Szabo     Trumpet

STEVE WIEST BIG BAND - Excalibur

   ALL TRACKS

Even though the odds are heavily against them, a handful of intrepid souls keeps struggling to safeguard the big band tradition, and a few of them even achieve a certain measure of success. Let's hope that trombonist Steve Wiest is among the modest group of winners, as his debut album, Excalibur, certainly bears repeating—not literally, of course, but at least in spirit.

Wiest, who cut his big band teeth with Maynard Ferguson about a quarter century ago and later earned a master's degree at the University of North Texas, is Director of Jazz Studies and Trombone at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As that's hardly a bulwark of musical talent, Wiest traveled to Chicago to recruit the best sidemen he could find—a quest that was, to say the least, and an unqualified triumph. The band is a killer, and the players have no trouble mastering Wiest's expansive and strenuous compositions and arrangements, which sometimes veer slightly off-center but always with an explicit blueprint in mind.

The album opens with the first of three standards, Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek, on which Wiest shows his arranging chops by transforming the evergreen into a shuffle groove on which his trombone is featured with bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Dave Bayles. Although he isn't listed among the soloists, Wiest is showcased on each of the eight selections, which encompass two more standards ("I Concentrate on You, "On Green Dolphn Street ) and five of his originals.

The title selection was inspired by Wiest's love for all things Arthurian, "A Night in Pidruid by science fiction writer Robert Silverberg's masterwork, Lord Valentine's Castle. "The Once and Future Groove (based on "You Stepped Out of a Dream ) is dedicated to the Freddie Green-impelled Count Basie sound, "Cerulean 12 is a gutsy twelve-bar blues with a Thad Jones/Oliver Nelson twist, "Silver Spin a salute to Wiest's wife, Carmen, who he says finds a silver lining ("silver spin ) behind every dark cloud or negative thought.

Wiest is splendid throughout, playing open most of the time, muted (to complement bass trombonist Matt Ingman) on "I Concentrate on You. Other standout soloists include soprano saxophonist Randy Hamm ("Excalibur ), baritone Glenn Kostur ("Groove ), pianist Matt Harris ("I Concentrate on You ), tenor Ed Petersen ("Pidruid ), trumpeter Mike Plog and alto Tim Ishii ("Cerulean 12 ). High marks too for the rhythm section (Harris, Bowman, guitarist Mike Standal, and drummers Bayles or Bob Rummage) and the trumpets, supervised by longtime Basie stalwart Mike Williams.

As noted, an impressive inaugural album that fairly begs for an encore. Wiest has an abundance of talent, as does his ensemble, and they're well worth your time.

Personnel: Steve Wiest: leader, trombone solos; Mike Williams, Matt Antoniewicz, Scott Harrell, Mike Plog: trumpet; Tim Ishii: alto saxophone, flute; Randy Hamm: alto, soprano saxophone; Ed Petersen: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Sam Fettig: tenor saxophone, flute; Glenn Kostur: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Paul McKee, Mark Bettcher, Barry Oosterwald: trombone; Matt Ingman: bass trombone; Matt Harris: piano; Mike Standal: guitar; Bob Bowman: bass; Dave Bayles (1,4,6), Bob Rummage (2,3,5,7,8): drums.

DUKE ELLINGTON - Italy 1958

From Duke Ellington's  November, 1958  telecast in Italy.
Featuring:
Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Ray Nance and Clark Terry

PETER LIPA and T&R BAND - Carmen

Now don't you all get too mad.
Here's something a little different, maybe a lot different, but kind of cool

STEVEB FEIFKE BIG BAND

Feifke leads several of his own projects of various sizes: a jazz orchestra, a septet, a trio, and a five piece ensemble called “The Songs of Winter Band.” He also co-leads an art music project with vocalist Martina DaSilva, called “With Strings.” Feifke has been named a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition (2011 and 2018), and has performed internationally since 2011. He lives in New York City where he writes out of his home studio, and when he is not touring he can frequently be heard performing at local venues like Smalls Jazz Club, The Django, Mezzrow, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In 2018, Feifke was the recipient of the Arts Mid-Hudson “Pro’s Meet Pupil’s” grant for his curriculum designed to teach students jazz history through performance. This grant is a part of an ongoing collaboration with The Catskills Jazz Factory. In addition to his grant work, Feifke has also been solo artist in residence at Northern Illionois University, and given masterclasses at Williams College in Western MA, and the Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective in New Haven, CT.

Feifke holds a BM in Jazz Studies and a minor in Economics from New York University (2013) and a MM in Jazz Composition from Manhattan School of Music in Jazz Composition (2018). During his time in school, Feifke studied with and learned from two luminaries of composition and orchestration: Gil Goldstein and Jim McNeely.

CHRIS McDONALD - In The Mood

 String Of Pearls

Here's a fresh look at the old Glen Miller standard, String Of Pearls. I got so tired of hearing and playing this tune that I seldom listen to Miller. This is pretty cool though

Artists he has arranged for include Carrie Underwood, Ricardo Arjona, Louis Fonsi, Jennifer Holliday, Gaby Moreno, Martina McBride, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Amy Grant, Kirk Franklin, Sara Evans, Patti Austin, and scores of others. His arrangements have been recorded by orchestras all over the world, and he is frequently called upon to conduct large studio orchestras including the 80 piece orchestra on Matchbox 20’s “Mad Season” project.

He has orchestrated scores for several major motion pictures, among them the 2001 release, “All The Pretty Horses” which was nominated for a Golden Globe for best musical score.

Chris’ award winning music embodies many genres including big band jazz, salsa, pop, country and rock. With more than 6,000 recording sessions to his credit, his stylistic versatility, while retaining a unique voice, consistently adds to every project he undertakes.

CLARK TERRY - TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI/LOU TABACKIN BIG BAND

MAYNARD FERGUSON - One Lasy Trip To Birdland

Complete Recording

Even at the age of 67, Maynard Ferguson shows on this CD that he could still belt out the high notes. His "Big Bop Noveau" band consists of four trumpets, trombonist Tom Garling (who takes a rockish guitar solo on "Birdland"), Matt Wallace and Chris Farr on saxophones, and a rhythm section. With the exception of "Birdland," the music is strictly bebop, with plenty of screaming trumpet and heated playing; Wallace's alto outbursts often take honors. Highlights include "Manteca," "Cajun Cookin'," "Milestones" and a hyper "It Don't Mean a Thing."

Artist Credit 
Tom Garling Arranger, Assistant Producer, Composer, Guitar, Trombone
Alan Baylock Arranger, Composer
Marko Marcinko Arranger, Drums, Percussion
Denis DiBlasio Arranger
Chip McNeill Arranger
Phil Palombi Bass (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass)
Maynard Ferguson Flugelhorn, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Producer, Trumpet
Dan Zank Keyboards, Piano
Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau Primary Artist
Christopher Farr Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Matt Wallace Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Vocals
Scott Englebright Trumpet
Carl Fischer Trumpet
Larry Foyen Trumpet

JOE GRANSDEN & HIS BIG BAND - Live At The Blue Note

Giant Steps