Bob Mintzer - Art Of The Big Band

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:25
Size: 143,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:51)  1. Without A Song
(5:04)  2. Brazilian Affair
(7:25)  3. Christopher Columbus
(6:30)  4. Easy Living
(7:59)  5. Art Of The Big Band
(6:47)  6. Moonlight Serenade
(6:44)  7. Elvin's Mambo
(4:44)  8. Weird Blues
(7:57)  9. Paul's Call
(4:20) 10. But Not For Me

This big-band date by Bob Mintzer from the early '90s utilizes some of the Big Apple's top available musicians of the era, including trumpeters Marvin Stamm and Randy Brecker, saxophonists Scott Robinson and Roger Rosenberg (both of whom double on clarinet), and pianist Phil Markowitz. Mintzer has moved freely between contemporary and mainstream jazz depending on the record date and personnel, but on this DMP release he incorporates a bit from each style. At times that's a problem, because straight-ahead fans will find the smooth jazz-like rhythm section in the standard "Without a Song" rather lame compared to the writing for the brass and reeds. Fortunately, when electric bassist Lincoln Goines is replaced by acoustic bassist Michael Formanek, as in "Christopher Columbus" (where Robinson swings like mad on tenor) and Mintzer's inventive chart of "Easy Living," all is well. The originals are a mixed bag, with the dynamic "Art of the Big Band" and the tricky "Weird Blues" being especially noteworthy. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-art-of-the-big-band-mw0000674388

Personnel:  Acoustic Bass – Michael Formanek;  Arranged By – Bob Mintzer;  Bass Trombone – David Taylor;  Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg, Scott Robinson;  Congas – Frankie Malabe;  Drums – John Riley (2) (tracks: 5, 9, 10), Peter Erskine;  Electric Bass – Lincoln Goines;  Flute – Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin;  Guitar – Chuck Loeb;  Piano – Phil Markowitz;  Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin, Roger Rosenberg, Scott Robinson (2);  Trombone – Dave Bargeron, Keith O'Quinn, Matt Finders (tracks: 2, 3, 8, 9), Mike Davis;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Laurie Frink, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, Bob Millikan

Art Of The Big Band

---