Big Bands

Postby **Ron Thorne** » July 23rd, 2013, 6:34 pm

Glad to see you posting on our new board, Phil (graypencil)!

graypencil wrote:... and while not what I'd call "big band" repertiore, the Maria Schneider /Dawn Upshaw orchestral work is absolutely stunning !

Man, I couldn't agree more. Maria's Sky Blue is a winner, too.

Postby **Steve Reynolds** » July 24th, 2013, 9:47 am

for me historically nothing compares to Duke Ellington's band - especially for me the music recorded in the late 1950's through the 1960's.

I have always been fascinated by larger ensembles with the most fascinating of all being Chris MacGregor's Brotherhood of Breath which existed in different personell groupings from ~ 1969 through the 1970's - maybe historically the one band of many great bands that I would wanted to see live more than any other band - including Monk, Coltrane or Mingus

the one band I NEED to see live more than any other current band is Barry Guy's New Orchestra which is a 10 piece band - or even better would be his London Jazz Composer's Orchestra. Of course, these bands do NOT really tour and concerts are rare (and for me) far far away.

I have had the pleasure of seeing a few fine big bands live - the Mingus Big Band a couple of years back - organized by Sue Mingus - @ The Jazz Standard, a big band organized by John Hollenbeck featuring Kenny Wheeler also at the Jazz Standard. Both were fine although not totally convincing or gripping that a large ensemebel can be.

But I did get to see the Alexander von Schlippenbach's Globe Unity Orchestra a couple of years back, and although the sound was sub par, it was still quite an experience.

I've seen Tony Malaby's Novela 3 times and they are spectacular and gripping - not quite a big band - but the sound when all 9 musicians get going is an amazing listening experience.

Plus ICP 3 times - twice with Misha and this year without - and from a swinging standpoint when all the horns are playing - and Bennink swinging (as he said last year in Harlem for his 70th birthday party "Drums are for Swinging" - nothing I've heard compares to that kind of excitement. NO ONE playes Duke or Basie or Monk better than these guys - not the originals but as fresh a take on the originals as one could imagine.

BUT the *greatest* large band I've ever seen live and up close was the Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet in the early 2000's @ Tonic with Hamid Drake - when they were reading charts - and the 2 shows exist for me as the pinnacle of what is possible in eneregy and groove within out music.

Postby **walto** » July 24th, 2013, 3:33 pm

Some of my favorite big group leaders off the top of my head have been Duke, Dizzy, Silva, Muhal, Brax, Fell, Cecil, Berne, Sun Ra, and ..... shit, who's that Israeli leader/saxophonist I like???

Uli???

Postby **uli** » July 24th, 2013, 4:13 pm

You're probably thinkin of Assif Tsahar, Walto.

Postby **walto** » July 25th, 2013, 2:27 am

Bam! Thanks.

:whew:

Postby **jaka** » July 25th, 2013, 4:48 am

Ron Thorne wrote:Man, I couldn't agree more. Maria's Sky Blue is a winner, too.

Saw that repertoire live, and instantly fell in love with the composer/conductor. And Ingrid (Jensen) too, again I might say because that was from a long time ago. :-|

Postby **moldyfigg** » July 25th, 2013, 9:06 am

You guys may not be familiar with them but back in the 30s and 40s Don Redmond and Boyd Raeburn were doing some very advanced stuff.

Postby **graypencil** » July 28th, 2013, 2:43 pm

@ Steve R:

Knowing sorta the kind of musical groups you like, you might find Darcy James Argues "Brooklyn Babylon " interesting ( even though I found it :poo:

)

its on New Amsterdam Records as his earlier effort ( yes, I DID buy both of them to give him a fair chance!v )

If you do check him out, I'll be interested in your reaction.

Postby **John L** » July 28th, 2013, 10:58 pm

Like many others here, I love Duke Ellington. But there is no big band closer to my heart than Count Basie's unit of the late 1930s. I would give anything to go back in time and experience that band live.

Among more modern big bands, I enjoy very much some of the work of the Clarke-Boland Big Band.

And thanks to Phil (Graypencil) for helping to keep the art alive today!

Postby **Mike Schwartz** » July 29th, 2013, 8:48 am

Orrin Evans at the helm of this outfit....have enjoyed what I've heard from them

Postby **Mike Schwartz** » July 29th, 2013, 8:55 am

These guys are doing some very interesting stuff!

Postby **Mike Schwartz** » July 29th, 2013, 9:00 am

LOVE this band and album!
Socal based.....Daversa just relocated to Florida to take a university gig.

Postby **moldyfigg** » July 29th, 2013, 9:24 am

Clark-Boland was a good band with a couple of good soloists, but I always though they were reflecting Ellington a lot. Not as blatant as Wynton, but. . .

Postby **Mike Schwartz** » July 29th, 2013, 12:39 pm

Mike Schwartz wrote:LOVE this band and album!
Socal based.....Daversa just relocated to Florida to take a university gig.

Clint....have you had the chance to see these guys?

Postby **Ron Thorne** » August 2nd, 2013, 4:41 pm

Now, this is a big band I never tire of hearing.

Postby **walto** » August 3rd, 2013, 7:58 am

FWIW, the Harvard U. big band is playing outside at a park down the block from me this Wed. night. Probably catch a bit of them, whether I want to or not.

Postby **Joe C.** » August 3rd, 2013, 1:57 pm

Ali Ryerson has put together a big band made up entirely of flutes and rhythm section. From what I hear on this clip, they sound pretty good. The CD just came out. I think I'm going to get it.

Postby **Ron Thorne** » August 3rd, 2013, 3:28 pm

Thanks a million for that clip, Joe! Man, I wasn't hip to this project, and it's worthy of our attention, without question.

What a lineup of flutists, and what a sterling rhythm section. The arrangers are 1st rate, too. 8-)

I may join you and pick this up myself.

Postby **Jimmy Cantiello** » August 3rd, 2013, 6:28 pm

Ha! Two of my favorite Connecticut people, Joe C. and Ali Ryerson. I remember listening to Ali at the late great Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, Connecticut. And I'm glad to hear that Joe is still promoting and playing Brazilian music.

Postby **Joe C.** » August 3rd, 2013, 7:40 pm

Hi Jim, nice to see that you're still around and still swingin'.

Postby **Dr Dave** » August 7th, 2013, 5:50 pm

Carla Bley!

Postby **Mike Schwartz** » August 7th, 2013, 9:16 pm

Postby **Ron Thorne** » January 21st, 2015, 7:43 pm

As Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack said, "fasten your seatbelts". This is a burner! I've played this great tune, but never at this tempo.

Postby **moldyfigg** » January 22nd, 2015, 11:26 am

My late friend, Bob, was one of the directors of the Tonite Show. A couple of times we were invited to come by in the afternoon and hear Doc's big band rehearse.

That was some ensemble who could play their asses off. Amongst the monsters were Ross Tompkins, Bob Cooper, Snooky Young, Tommy Newsom and Ed Shaughnessy.

Postby **bluenoter** » March 23rd, 2016, 2:33 pm

makpjazz57 wrote:Thad and Mel - so very said I didn't get to hear them live at the Vanguard, but i did have the opportunity to hear Mel Lewis and the band at the Vanguard many a Monday night.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/50-years-on-a-monday-night-tradition-keeps-the-village-vanguard-swinging/

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