Carl Saunders Out Of The Blue CD

OUT OF THE BLUE - released in 1996, was the first in a series of albums to feature Carl Saunders as leader. The popular L.A. based trumpet player has a long history of major performance to match his recording discography. With the Grammy award winning bands including Bob Florence he is featured as a jazz player, and on the Bill Holman band plays only lead or 1st trumpet. OUT OF THE BLUE is the first ever recording to be awarded 5-stars in all four categories by the prestigious International Trumpet Guild. This recording also has features not previous found when listening with headphones as particular attention was paid to stereo spacing – such as notes on the piano keyboard during a solo, or the individual 5-trumpets sound as they were recorded to a point in space where each part can be separately identified. OUT OF THE BLUE highlights Carl’s versatility moving from traditional bebop to the classical Chopin’s “Minute Waltz” (Valtz Opus 64 #1) which, incidentally, each chorus can be measured in much less than a minute! Carl’s composition and arranging skills range from the traditional quartet setting with Roger Kellaway, (piano) Buster Williams, (bass) Santo Savino, (drums) to the sextet when adding Jerry Pinter (tenor sax) and Andy Martin. (trombone) OUT OF THE BLUE comes with 8 (eight) pages of liner notes including historical facts, track info, and photographs.

This CD could have been titled "It's About Time!" It is hard to believe that trumpeter Carl Saunders, a fixture in Los Angeles since he moved from Las Vegas in 1984, had never before led his own record date. A superb bop-based improviser whether featured in big bands, with the Dave Pell Octet, or in smaller combos, Saunders has long been in demand for jazz sessions. For this release, he is showcased in a quartet with pianist Roger Kellaway, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Santo Savino; two numbers add the tenor of Jerry Pinter and trombonist Andy Martin. Saunders gets the opportunity to stretch out on four standards, five originals (either by him or Scott Tibbs), and -- best of all -- an unusual and exciting version of Chopin's Minute Waltz. Varying romps with ballads and showing off not only his creative ideas but his warm tone, Carl Saunders' maiden effort as a leader is quite impressive and highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

Personnel includes: Carl Saunders (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jerry Pinter (tenor saxophone); Andy Martin (trombone); Roger Kellaway (piano); Buster Williams (bass); Santo Savino (drums).

JazzTimes (11/96, p.110) - "...the fluidity, range and drama of his trumpet playing have been known to a surprisingly small circle of listeners....If this album gets circulated, Saunders may find himself one of the most talked about trumpeters of the '90s..."