Greg Hester Jazz

A Christmas Gift for Jazz Fans:

Album: Big Band Christmas
Artist: Rob McConnell Boss Brass
Original Recording: September, 1998
Label: Concord Records

A Christmas season never seems to pass that doesn't innundate us with a barrage of carols warped into a jazz vein, and many, if not most of them, are ill winds that no one blows good. That's what makes listening to this album by Canadian jazz band-master, Rob McConnell and his Boss Brass big band such an unexpected pleasure. We predict that you've heard nothing like it.

McConnell's personnel is entirely Canadian, and so the names will be unfamiliar to most American jazz buffs, but they are no less accomplished than their better known stateside counterparts. Originally formed in 1968  by Toronto's superbly gifted writer/arranger/valve-trombonist, Robert McConnell, Boss Brass featured a  14 piece ensemble without a reed section (Hence, the Boss Brass label). In fact, during the early years, McConnell even played around with a 'no-rhythm-section' concept. But eventually soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes; clarinets; a bass clarinet; flutes, and even a piccolo were added along with a piano, bass, drums, guitar and a few percussion instruments. It all adds up to an absolutely astounding 20 piece aggregation that is guaranteed to blow your ears off.

The Boss Brass is an extraordinary group  of musicians playing some awesome McConnell charts. Close your eyes and you might think you're listening to some magical hybrid mixture of a Thad Jones-Mel Lewis/neo Stan Kenton orchestra.  The songs on this album are mainly the familiar traditional carols we all grew up with, but done with an amazing freshness as never before heard. Particularly appealing is their swing version of The Christmas Waltz, which, as you will quickly discover, is not a waltz at all.

You will hear some exceptional solo work by pianist David Restivo; trumpeters, Kevin Turcotte and Steve McDade; alto saxophonist, Moe Koffman, and leader/valve-trombonist, Rob McConnell .

My Favorite Things features the soprano saxophone of Pat LaBarbera and the tenor of Alex Dean, while Silent Night glides along as a Christmas waltz , featuring the brilliant solo guitar of Ed Bickert.  What Are You Doing New Year's Eve dances the Carioca with flutes, drummer Ted Warren and some spicily improvised solos.

For this one you're going to want to light up the Christams tree, stoke the fireplace, kick off your shoes, wrap your fingers around an ice-cold dry martini while you just sit back , close your eyes and .... enjoy.

Marvelous. Simply marvelous!

Track Listing:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Silver Bells
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
White Christmas
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Winter Wonderland
Away In a Manger
The Christmas Waltz
The Christmas Song
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Silent Night, Holy Night
My Favorite Things
A Christmas Love Song
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Joy to the World

Benny Golson's New York Jazz Scene:

Album: Benny Golson's New York Scene
Artist: Benny Golson 
Personnel: Benny Golson, Tenor Sax; Art Farmer, Trumpet; Julius Watkins, French Horn; James Cleveland, Trombone; Sahib Shihab, Baritone Sax; Gigi Gryce, Alto Sax; Wynton Kelly, Piano; Paul Chambers, Bass; Charli Persip, Drums
Original Release Date: October 14, 1957
Label: Contemporary/OJC

This album, first released in 1957, was Benny Golson's first jazz date as a leader. It represents the merger of East Coast bop jam session styles with the composition and arrangement geniuses of Golson and Gigi Gryce. This band features, besides Golson and Gryce, Art Farmer, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cleveland, Paul Chambers and Charli Persip. Of the total of eight cuts, five are Golson originals, the most famous of which is Whisper Not.

(Photo: Benny Golson)

Golson came up writing and arranging for Tad Dameron, Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie. With this album he establishes himself as not only an accomplished arranger and composer, but a strong soloist with a unique style. A particular favorite of mine is his treatment of the Johnny Body and Soul Green's  You're Mine, You. It is a great vehicle for Golson to display his ballad playing ability.

Another highlight is the Gryce composition Capri, a tune that had also been recorded by the great Clifford Brown. The outstanding rhythm section of Kelly, Chambers and Persip allow each of the soloists, in their own ways, to explore the boundaries of the modern jazz of that particular era.
(Photo: Art Farmer)

For anyone out there not familiar with Benny Golson's work, I would highly recommend they give this album a listen. They will be well rewarded.(Greg Hester)
                                                                                        (Photo: Charli Persip)

For Big Band Fans:

Album: Fun Time: Count Basie Big Band at the Montreux '75 [Live]
Artist: Count Basie
Label: Pablo
Originally recorded: 1975
(Photo: Count Basie & Butch Miles)

Big swing bands have come and gone - some good, some even great - but since the early forties, the one quality for which all big bands have striven (strived?) - though only few attained -  was the big, rich, fat sound of the great Count Basie bands; bands that were always - always - anchored by a strong, outstanding drummer, and bands without which, who knows to what level of mediocrity they might have slipped. The Basie band that gave us this album is no exception.

While some drummers are more comfortable and excel in small ensemble environments, many seem to disappear when asked to drive a big band. Not true of Butch Miles. Butch Miles seems to be at his absolute best in a big band. This album is all about the powerful drumming of Butch Miles.

I first became a fan of Miles when I saw him perform with Basie at the old Circle Star Theater near San Francisco back in the middle seventies, and I've stayed a fan ever since.

Make no mistake about it. This album is a showcase for the considerable talents of Butch Miles. He drives the band. He pushes it. He attacks his drums without mercy. He is is brash. He is confident. His impeccable sense of time and precision and his absolute technical mastery is evident on every single track. He caps off the set with Whirlybird, an amazing five and a half-minute solo on the final track, happily reminiscent of that Louis Bellson classic, Skin Deep.

There's also an Ella Fitzgerald bonus cut, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered on this album.

(Photo: Butch Miles in action)

So move over Sonny, Philly Jo, Louie, Buddy - and make room for another drum legend. Before Butch is done, he will have become the new standard by which all future big-band jazz drummers will have to be judged.