Home Of My Heart CD

A young big band conductor. A rarity to be sure, but not necessarily an oxymoron. Chris Walden proves that in this album, a surprisingly versatile primer of the big band. Walden can use traditional techniques, with a soloist over the top of a soft backing of horns, as you'll hear in the Christopher Cross-penned "Rainy Day in Vancouver," as well as his own Film Noir series. He can invoke the spirit of Tadd Dameron's bop big bands, which you'll get glimpses of in "Cherokee." He can cover old Jimmy Van Heusen classics and film scores with ease, adapt the intricacy of four to a large ensemble, and even force the old Star Wars pieces to fit into a classic-'60s big band sound. The playing on the part of the band is spotless and finessed. They can slink and smash equally well, and support and solo in turn. There's a quiet big band renaissance movement afoot, and Walden, while not necessarily standing at the forefront to force it upon the listener, very ably shows off what a big band can do, and how well it can be done. ~ Adam Greenberg

The award-winning German composer/arranger Chris Walden has scored over 30 features and TV films and has done arrangements for dozens of artists, including Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Bill Conti, and the Chicago Symphony. Walden started writing for G

Adapters: Jeremy Lubbock; Alan Broadbent.

Personnel: Chris Walden (drum programming); Chris Walden (flugelhorn, programming); Christopher Cross (guitar); Rob Lockart, Rob Lockhart, Rick Keller, Tom Petersen (saxophone); Kevin Richardson, Kyle Palmer (trumpet); Jacques Voyemant (trombone); Dave Carpenter (double bass); Tony Pia, Tony Pia (drums); Tierney Sutton (vocals); Mitch Holder (guitar); Frank Marocco (accordion); Pete Christlieb, Jeff Driskill, Brian Scanlon, Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields (saxophone); Wayne Bergeron, Ron King, Roger Ingram, Bobby Shew, Carl Saunders (trumpet); Alexander Iles, Arturo Velasco, Richard Bullock, Bruce Otto, Bryant Byers, Bob McChesney (trombone); Alan Steinberger (piano); Peter Erskine (drums); M.B. Gordy (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.

Liner Note Author: John "Buddy" Williams .

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA (09/27/2002-01/17/2003).

Authors: Christopher Cross; Dave Grusin; Jeremy Lubbock; John Clayton.

Arranger: Chris Walden.Down Beat (p.70) - "[A] satisfying selections of cinematically oriented, well-played and smartly arranged songs..."
JazzTimes (p.107) - "Walden's imagination and the enthusiastic solos of trumpeters Bobby Shew, Ron King, Kye Palmer, trombonist Bob McChesney and saxophonists Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields and Jeff Driskill make this a must buy."