Jim Waller is a world-class arranger and multi-instrumentalist with a sterling musical resume. One of the items on his "bucket list" was to record a big band album. His new CD "Bucket List" completes his goal in fine fashion. For those readers who are not familiar with Jim Waller and his career, let's start with a list of the instruments he has mastered: Tenor, Alto and Soprano Sax, Trombone, Organ, Piano and Guitar. He also is noted as a freelance Arranger, record Producer and Educator. Waller has worked with an impressive list of major musicians including Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Willie Nelson, Bill Watrous, Cat Anderson, Richie Cole, Paul Gonsalves and Pete Fountain.
Waller's New CD "Bucket List" is an exciting example of his ability for Arranging and Composing for a Big Band! The Jim Waller Big Band consists of a 21-piece big band for which Waller has provided all the arrangements. The CD contains a balance of 7 standards and 7 Waller original songs. It also features five vocals from a wonderful Big Band singer, Jacqueline Sotelo.
Playlist:
The Players:
I have attached two "YouTubes" for your listening pleasure. The first is a Jim Waller's composition, "Blues For Los Blues" and the second is a composition from the great Peggy Lee "I Love Being Here With You" that features a sparkling vocal from Jacqueline Sotelo. Both cuts are terrific!
Back in January of 2020 I was having dinner at a small restaurant (Backstreet Bistro) in Palm Desert California and ran into the legendary Jazz Bass player, Henry "The Skipper" Franklin who was playing in a quartet there. I knew this night would be filled with wonderful Jazz, and it was. Henry has played with the "Who's Who" of Jazz and I have been fortunate to hear him play with many of the top Jazz performers in the California desert. He is a real pro and no matter who he is playing with, he always seems to bring the group to a higher level and that's high praise for a Bass player. But Henry is not just a Bass player, he is a high-level master Bass player and Producer. In a conversation during one of the breaks, Henry told me about a new CD that he just finished and wanted to get my opinion. Well, the CD was by 3 More Sounds titled the "Ghetto Princes, A Tribute to Gene Harris". I was knocked out by the music on this CD and published a review on my blog on March 20, 2020. If you missed this review, you can go to my list of published blogs and read the review.
Last month Henry Franklin sent me a new CD from 3 More Sounds titled "Live at the Gardenia Club" that he co-produced with sensational piano player, Robert Turner.The Gardenia Club is a famous Jazz supper club in East Hollywood that, like most Jazz supper clubs is somewhat past its prime. Robert chose this venue because he liked the Piano at the Gardenia Club. It is not unusual for a Jazz Piano player to find themselves every night playing on Pianos that are less than optimum so when they find a great piano it calls to them! I had the pleasure of hearing Robert Turner play in person many times at various club-venues in the Palm Spring California area. He is everything you would expect and desire from a Jazz piano player. His personality is sparkling and he never hesitates to talk about Jazz Piano with piano-playing amateurs sharing his approach to Jazz piano. He was greatly influenced by many of the great Jazz piano pianists of the past including one of my personal favorites, Gene Harris. When he plays I can hear parts of all of the great Piano Players of past years mixed into his own personal style. This CD is live at the Gardenia Club and when you listen to the cuts I have attached below, you will feel the emotion generating from the audience and the performers. The third member of this group is Carl Burnett who also has a very impressive resume. Carl is the perfect third member of this trio because he swings hard with a perfect groove that completes this group.
3 More Sounds live at the Gardenia Club is a CD that every Jazz lover should have. It's real Jazz played by three of the very best American Jazz musicians performing today. It would make a wonderful present for any Jazz lover you know including yourself.
I have attached two "YouTubes" from this new CD. The first is the group's up-tempo version of the standard "On A Clear Day". This cut will answer all questions about how good these three Jazz performers are! Robert Turner just keeps surprising us with his spectacular Jazz Piano skills, HenryFranklin performs creative and tasty Bass work that explains why he has played with almost all of the Jazz greats and Carl Burnett gives the group a driving beat that's perfect for his two amazing Jazz performing partners. I spent a lot of time picking the second cut because every song on this CD is wonderful. I finally decided to share "Green Dolphin Street". Enjoy the 3 More Sounds, this is what real Jazz is all about!
One of the greatest benefits I receive from publishing CD reviews is the opportunity it gives me to experience new music and the musicians that created it. The new CD from The Horizons Jazz Orchestra, "The Bright Side" is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This wonderful big band CD was created through the efforts of the Executive Producer Jeannette C. Pina and the Musical Director and Producer Michael Balogh. The CD is a tribute to Composer/Arranger Lee Harris. Lee Harris was a Baritone Sax player and also a brilliant Composer and Arranger who worked in New York City and Atlantic City. Harris and Trumpeter Dennis Noday were both alumnus of the Stan Kenton and MaynardFerguson bands and when you listen to the two cuts I have attached, the Kenton/Ferguson influence in both sounds and Arrangements will be very clear.
The music The Horizons Jazz Orchestra produces is big and bold music that is very understandable even to those who have not heard a lot of the traditional big band sounds. The musicianship from the members of this band is incredibly outstanding. Adding to the wonderful sound of this Orchestra are three guest musicians who I am sure some of you will recognize: Carl Saunders, Jonathan Joseph and Billy Ross. I have had the pleasure of hearing Trumpeter virtuoso Carl Saunders perform in person many times and he never fails to overachieve my musical expectations. He is a brilliant musician and is featured on five of the ten tracks. Jonathan Joseph who performs on four tracks is a Grammy-winning Drummer who is known for his work with Spyro Gyra, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets and David Sanborn. He has toured with Jeff Beck during the last seven years. And Woodwind Specialist and Jazz great Billy Ross has been a member of the Woody Herman Orchestra and then played with a long list of music greats including Natalie Cole,Barry Manilow, the Four Tops and the O'Jays.
This CD with its outstanding musicianship, exciting arrangements and some rarely heard compositions from Lee Harris while new to most listeners will seem comfortable and familiar to most! I give special thanks to JeannettePina and Michael Balogh for creating this tribute to Lee Harris, an unheralded but talented Arranger and Composer.
Playlist:
1. Red Apple Sweet
2. Pure Imagination
3. After You've Gone, Finally
4. The Runner
5. Fourth Dimension
6. The Brite Side
7. The Sound
8. Summertime
9. Maria
10. A Train Bossa
Players:
Reeds: Scott Klarman, Mike Brignola, Billy Ross, Joe Mileti, Randy Emerick
Trombones: Michael Balogh, Jason Pyle, Tom Lacy, Steven Mayer
Trumpets: Dennis Noday, Ryan Chapman, Jack Wengrosky, Fernando Ferrarone, Chaim Rubinov
Rhythm Section: Gary Mayone, Ranses Colon, Luke Williams, George Mazzeo
Featuring Carl Saunders, Jonathan Joseph and Billy Ross
I have attached two "YouTubes" for your listening enjoyment. The first tune is titled "After You've Gone, Finally". It's a Harris take-off on the familiar standard. Saunders and Ross take solos along with Gary Mayone on Keys, Scott Klarman on Alto Sax.
"After You've Gone, Finally" The second tune is one of my favorite Maynard Ferguson's Big Band standards, "Maria". It's an inspiring solo by Dennis Noday. "Maria"
Los Angeles-based reed player David Sills has recorded and performed for many CDs, 17 to be clear, and has recently released his newest CD "Natural Lines". This CD features some of the best Jazz musicians on the West Coast including the double Guitars of Larry Koonse and Mike Scott. Sills has been studying Saxophone since he was 10 years old, and still considers himself a student of the greats! He performs regularly and teaches privately. "Natural Lines" is his 17th CD as a leader and it features seven of his original compositions as well as tunes by Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Jimmy Davis, Alan Broadbent and two of Sills' accompanists, Guitarists Larry Koonse and Mike Scott. He has been wanting to do a CD with two Guitars for quite a well. Sills explains, "In recent years, most of my performances have taken place in venues in which no piano was available, so to fill the role of the missing piano, I began adding a second guitar. This instrumentation seemed to open up many musical possibilities and allowed for an interesting mix of sonic colors. Thus, the idea for this recording featuring a "Double Guitar Quintet" was born". After listening to this CD, I totally agree with David Sills thinking!
The CD opens with a great tune called "Minor Monk" that was written by Mike Scott. I am sure that you can guess who was the inspiration for this tune and it's a beauty! I have attached a "YouTube" of this tune so you can enjoy the great sounds. I have also attached a second "YouTube" of the 4th cut on this CD, a song written by Alan Broadbent called "Quiet Is The Star". I am sure you will enjoy both tunes.
The other players on this CD are old friends of mine that I first heard when they were playing in the Palm Springs California area, Drummer Tim Pleasant and Bass player Blake White. Both are fabulous Jazz musicians who are in great demand all over the Southern California area. So basically what David Sills has put together in this CD are some great original tunes, some lesser played great tunes and some of the finest musicians on the West Coast. The result is a superb CD with beautiful music played by very experienced and skilled musicians. This formula results in a wonderful Jazz music product!
