CD Review: Russ Anixter's Hipple Big Band, "What Is?"

 

For all my readers who like a hip big band sound,  a new CD "What Is?" from Arranger Russ Anixter contains tons of musical enjoyment for you!  "What Is?" is a collection of arrangements from Anixter that represents his love and background for big band jazz and rock groups that improvise.  Russ states, "Most of what you hear was written with specific players in the band in mind."  "I've selected 11 musical adventures that represent our breadth and depth in styles, that best feature the great solos in the band and the two prodigious great artists we have along for the wild ride."  

Russ Anixter has a master's degree in Jazz composition at the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Manny Albam and developed his writing for Jazz bands and chamber ensembles.  He worked as a music copyist in New York for over 30 years which gave him a chance to study many great scores while getting paid.  According to Russ, "I learned a lot of craft on the job".  When listening to   "The Hippie Big Band" it's clear that the talented group of musicians are having lots of fun playing Russ' arrangements.  In addition to the band members listed below, Russ included two special guests, Steven Bernstein on slide Trumpet and Oz Noy on Guitar.  

I have attached a video performance by "The Hippie Big Band" that was recorded live at the "Cutting Room" on September 6, 2024.  They perform the title tune of this CD,  "What Is Hip".  This tune was made popular by the "Tower of Power" and it never sounded better!

PLAYLIST:

1. What Is Hip?

2. Dixie Chicken"

3. Free Man In Paris

4. She Said, She Said

5. Heaven On Their Minds

6. Saint Stephen/Turn On Your Love Light

7. Uncle John's Band

8. Hide Away

9. Into the Mystic

10. Whipping Post

11. Green Hornet

PLAYERS:

Russ Anixter- Arrangements and Orchestrations

Matt Hong: Alto Sax, Flute, Bass Clarinet

Stan Harrison- Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Alto Flute

Frank Vacin- Baritone & Soprano Saxes, Alto Flute

Matt Owens- Trumpet & Flugelhorn

Audrey Flores- French Horn

Dan Levine- Trombone

Jack Schatz- Bass Trombone

Bill Hayes- Vibes, Xylo, Congas

Michael Aarons- Guitar

Steve Count- Bass

Scott Neumann- Drums

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Steven Bernstein- Slide Trumpet

Oz Noy- Guitar

                                          "What Is Hip?" Live from the Cutting Room 9/6/24