Randy Brecker / DR Big Band / Danish Radio Big Band / Dr Big Band and the Danish National Chamber O - Jazz Ballad Song Book CD

Jazz Ballad Song Book songs Veteran arranger Gerald Wilson utilized a New York band full of all-stars for this very rewarding and memorable project. Three of the selections ("Dorian," "Ray's Vision at the U," and "Blues for Manhattan") form a suite called "The Diminished Triangle," which is based upon diminished chords and utilizes Wilson's eight-part harmony. Guitarist Russell Malone is showcased on the ballad "Musette," a remake of "Lomelin" pays tribute to a bullfighter in dramatic fashion, and such players as tenor saxophonist Kazumi Washington (an impressive new voice), pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeters Jon Faddis, Jimmy Owens, and Sean Jones, and tenor man Ron Blake are among the many colorful soloists. But it is the enthusiastic arranger/bandleader who takes honors with his consistently inventive writing and (one imagines) enthusiastic conducting. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow Gerald Wilson: Russell Malone (guitar); Steve Wilson, Gary Smulyan, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake , Dustin Cicero, Jerry Dodgian (woodwinds); Eddie Henderson, Frank Green, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Mike Rodriguez (trumpet); Dennis Wilson , Luis Bonilla, Benny Powell, Douglas Purviance (trombone); Renee Rosnes (keyboards); Peter Washington ...

Jazz Ballad Song Book CD music Latin jazz pianist Danilo Perez outfits himself with strings on 2008's ACROSS THE CRYSTAL SEA. Arranger Claus Ogerman pens most of the album's tunes, and his charts and compositions create a rich framework for the improvisations of Perez and the other players, including bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Hash in addition to vocalist Cassandra Wilson, whose performances on "Lazy Afternoon" and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" make for two of the album's highlights. Those expecting a straightforward Latin jazz outing may be surprised by the lyrical sweep of ACROSS THE CRYSTAL SEA. Claus Ogerman/Danilo Pérez: Danilo Pérez (piano); Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Christian McBride (bass instrument); Lewis Nash (drums, drum); Luis Quintero (percussion). Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt. Liner Note Author: Tommy LiPuma. Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (09/29/2007-10/20/2007); Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA (09/29/2007-10/20/2007). Editor: Brian Montgomery. Arranger: Claus Ogerman.

Jazz Ballad Song Book buy CD music Trumpeter Roy Hargrove has been in some exotic musical environments in the past -- from his various quintets, quartets, his Afro-Cuban outfit Crisol, and his funk band the RH Factor, he's pretty much done it all. And while he's played in various big bands before, he's never led his own until now. Emergence on the Groovin' High imprint features a 19-member big band, playing a set of 11 standards and originals by Hargrove and bandmembers as well as a track written for the leader by none other than pianist Chucho Valdés -- who doesn't appear here. The roots for this project go all the way back to 1995 when Hargrove formed a big band to play the New York Jazz Festival. The group went through many metamorphoses when he played a series of club and festival gigs over the intervening years. The set begins with "Velera," a tune written and arranged by Hargrove. It's a ballad in modal style with extended harmonies and a lovely textural palette. The composer employs restraint to bring forth his gorgeous melody. It's followed by "Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey," written and arranged by baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall. It quotes liberally from "Wade in the Water" and "Hit the Road Jack," but is a stomping, raucous blues in its own right with the wide chromatic and harmonic range of the brass section on full display, and contains a smoking solo break by Hargrove. Some of the standards that really shine are an unusually restrained and utterly elegant "My Funny Valentine" and the finger-popping "September in the Rain," the former arranged by bass trombonist Max Siegel and the latter by Hargrove. Frank Lacy's "Requiem" is here, and is the most imaginative tune on the set; arranged by the composer, it walks a solid line between modern post-bop jazz and modern classical composition. Roberta Gambarini is the guest vocalist on "Every Time We Say Goodbye," and does a knockout job. There are a couple of Latin numbers on the set as well, and they just smoke: "Mambo for Roy," written by Valdés, and "La Puerta," which also features Gambarini -- they offer deep-listening evidence how far-reaching this band is at heart. Hargrove's "Tschpiso" is a wild, rumbling big brass number filled with syncopation, tough rhythms, and heavy blues feel. In all, Emergence is a stunner from top to bottom. ~ Thom Jurek Personnel: Roy Hargrove (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Justin Robinson , Bruce Williams (alto, flute, reeds); Keith Loftis, Norbert Stachel (tenor, flute, reeds); Jason Marshall (baritone, flute, reeds); Saul Rubin (guitar); Ambrose Akinmusire, Darren Barrett, Greg Gisbert, Frank Greene (trumpet); Vincent Chandler, Saunders Sermons, Jason Jackson (trombone); Max Siegel (bass trombone); Gerald Clayton (piano); Danton Boller (bass instrument); Montez Coleman (drums); Roland Guerrero (percussion). Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.

Jazz Ballad Song Book album for sale Don Menza: Klaus-Peter Schopfer (guitar); Jorg Kaufman, Andreas Maile, Axel Kuhn , Pierre Paquette, Klaus Graf (saxophone); Don Menza (tenor saxophone); Don Rader, Felice Civitareale, Claus Reichstaller, Karl Farrent, Rudolf Reindl (flugelhorn); Ian Cumming, George Maus, Joe Gallardo, Marc Godfroid (trombone); Klaus Wagenleiter (piano); Decebal Badila (bass guitar); Holger Nell (drums).

Jazz Ballad Song Book CD music Gerald Wilson has been a fixture at the Monterey Jazz Festival in California since its inception, and has been commissioned to write works for that festival. On Monterey Moods, he presents a seven-part suite featuring different elements of jazz, all in modern big-band style, based on three notes signifying the evenly paced word "Mon-ter-ey." Each segment sings and swings in its own way, yet has similar characteristics, much as a cohesive fashion collection might. Wilson, at 89 years young, has recruited a New York-based all-star band, not one from his resident southern California, for this endeavor. All are heavyweights, and are given liberal solo space after the sparse head arrangements. The music is for the most part punchy, vital, and alive with the spirit of the breezy, ocean-splashed, spacious West Coast. Hubert Laws is the most prominent soloist, as the distinctive flute master weaves his magic throughout. A quick-witted hard-bop "Allegro" starts the proceedings, followed by "Jazz Swing Waltz" with a lengthy piano intro from Renee Rosnes in prelude for three flutes fronting the call-and-response horns, a complex chart, and a total of six soloists. The next four pieces, a suite within a suite, cement the quite similar three-note phrase in easy late-night calypso with Afro-Cuban (seven soloists!), blues (another five), and solo bass modes, with the seventh-part finale a no-solo clipped coda epilogue. Wilson's writing is no less than remarkable and as good as it gets, especially considering his age. The remainder of the program is a feature for son/guitarist Anthony Wilson for the very slow tender ballad standard "I Concentrate on You" and "The Mini Waltz," another showcase for the brilliant, bright, and quick flute of the ever-present Laws. This session is quite comparable to Wilson's Grammy-nominated Theme for Monterey, and quite accurately reflective of the ambience there. It's easy to hear Wilson at the peak of his very formidable powers, and this recording is highly recommended for those who enjoy the modern mainstream big-band sound of now. ~ Michael G. Nastos Gerald Wilson: Anthony Wilson (guitar); Antonio Hart, Steve Wilson (alto saxophone); Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Terell Stafford, Frank Greene (flugelhorn); Jay Ashby, Luis Bonilla, Douglas Purviance, Dennis Wilson (trombone); Renee Rosnes (piano); Todd Coolman, Peter Washington (bass guitar); Lewis Nash (drums); Gerald Wilson. Additional personnel: Hubert Laws (flute).

Jazz Ballad Song Book buy CD music Gerald Wilson demonstrates that age is only a number with his outstanding composing and arranging for these big-band sessions. Having celebrated his 92nd birthday around the time that he made this recording, Wilson offers a diverse program, though his deteriorating vision requires Eric Otis (his grandson) to notate the leader's music from his oral instructions as he composes at the piano. Three of his pieces are derived from famous classical works. "Variations on a Theme by Igor Stravinsky" is taken from the composer's famous early 20th century ballet The Firebird, a robust cooker that serves as a brief introduction. "Variations on Clair de Lune" gives Claude Debussy's well-known work a slow, bluesy air at first, showcasing pianist Renee Rosnes and son Anthony Wilson on guitar, though it soon transforms into a breezy setting. "Variations on a Theme by Giacomo Puccini" takes one of his most beloved moving arias ("Nessum Dorma") and gives it an uplifting bop flavor. Wilson's "Yes, Chicago Is." consists of a seven-part suite, highlighted by the boisterous "Riffin' at the Regal" and the snappy "Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and White Sox" (a bluesy vehicle with numerous potent solos). Anthony composed and arranged "Virgo," while Eric penned "September Sky," further evidence that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as far as music is concerned in the Wilson family. The supporting cast includes some of the most in-demand musicians on the New York City jazz scene, including bassist Peter Washington, drummer Lewis Nash, saxophonists Antonio Hart, Dick Oatts, and Gary Smulyan, and trumpeters Jeremy Pelt, Sean Jones, and Freddie Hendrix, along with trombonists Douglas Purviance and Alan Ferber, among others. This outstanding recording adds to the already substantial discography of the great Gerald Wilson. ~ Ken Dryden Liner Note Authors: Gretchen Valade; Neil Tesser. Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY. Photographer: Curtis McElhinney.