John LaBarbera Fantazm CD

A superior arranger, John La Barbera utilized some of the top Los Angeles-based musicians on this big-band date (including his brother, drummer Joe La Barbera), importing his other musical brother, tenor and soprano saxophonist Pat La Barbera from Canada. Along the way one hears one of Woody Shaw's best compositions ("Moontrane"), an organ piece for Bill Cunliffe ("Pythodd Fellows"), the love theme from the film Apache ("My Love And I"), an obscure Duke Ellington number ("Fantaqzm"), the pop tune "Kyrie," Pat La Barbera's "Yours or Mine or Blues," and three originals by the leader. In addition to Pat and Joe La Barbera, key soloists include trumpeters Clay Jenkins and Wayne Bergeron, guitarist Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard on soprano, altoist Kim Richmond, Bob Carr on bass clarinet, trombonist Andy Martin, and Bill Cunliffe on piano and organ. The writing gives each selection forward momentum and the results are never predictable. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

"Fantazm," John La Barbera's follow-up to his 2004 Grammy nominated "On The Wild Side" (JCO 1007), is a collection of standards and originals inspired by something Duke Ellington once said: "a little thing that the theme is taken from...the kind of a dre

Author: Duke Ellington.

Photographer: James Frank Dean.

Arranger: John La Barbera.

Personnel: Larry Koonse (guitar); Kim Richmond (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Tom Peterson (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bob Carr (bass clarinet); Bob Shepard, Pat La Barbera (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Wayne Bergeron (trumpet, flugelhorn); Clay Jenkins, Bob O'Donnell, Jr., Dennis Farias (trumpet); Charlie Morillas, Andy Martin, Alexander Iles, Ken Kugler, Bob McChesney (trombone); Bill Cunliffe (piano, organ, keyboards); Joe La Barbera (drums); Scott Breadman (percussion).

Recording information: Martinsound Studios (06/07/2005/06/08/2005).

Down Beat (p.74) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Strong tracks like the pungent blues variant 'Yours Or Mine Or Blues' and the sensuous Duke Ellington title piece tip the balance in La Barbera's favor."
JazzTimes (p.111) - "With each of the siblings highly regarded in his own right, the superior quality of their collaboration is virtually assured. Add some of the best players in the Los Angeles area and the deal is cinched."