The H2 Big Band - You're It!

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:54
Size: 179,3 MB
Art: Front

( 7:03)  1. Blue Brews
( 5:28)  2. You're It!
( 4:38)  3. Singing in the Rain
( 4:47)  4. BMG
( 5:15)  5. For Claus
( 8:06)  6. Big Spender
( 8:03)  7. Double Doubles
( 7:21)  8. Blue in Green
( 6:38)  9. Al's Well
( 5:59) 10. Romanza
(13:31) 11. Joy Spring

For those who can enjoy and fully appreciate the pulsating sounds of contemporary big bands, You're It! is a powerful musical encounter not to be missed. Led by two educators from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music renowned trumpeter Alan Hood and co-leader, pianist Dave Hanson have assembled a seventeen-piece ensemble including some of Denver's finest, just for this recording. The H2 Big Band, named from the first letter of both co-leaders' surnames, can surely be considered a muscle-type orchestra, as the music clearly bears out. A special feature of the band is its out-of-towners, who contribute mightily and include baritone saxophonist Glenn Kostur, and trumpeters Bobby Shew, Jason Carder and Mike Rodriguez. Hanson whose specialty is composing and arranging for big bands contributes the majority of the charts. There's plenty of swing and electricity drawn from selected cover tunes like Cy Coleman's roaring "Big Spender." The arrangement of Arthur Freed's immortal "Singing In The Rain" is another example, and features a tight alto solo from Rich Chiaraluce. Opening the album with an immediate impression, Hanson chose "Blue Brews" a special, as he puts it, "super-articulated minor blues over a heavy shuffle groove," that kicks the music off in high gear. The title piece follows with co-leader Hood sharing the space with Shew, both blowing hard and heavy on another rousing burner. "BMG," short for "Be My Guide," is a fast blues piece that takes no prisoners, with energy provided by Shew and Texas tenor Bob Rebholz. Named after one of Hanson's arranging heroes, Claus Ogerman, "For Claus" is one of the more subdued tracks, with the band entering calmly.

The music takes a cushy turn on Miles Davis' "Blue In Green" as the band shows a glimpse of its softer side with tender moments provided by Brad Goode's Davis-like, muted horn solo, with tenor saxophonist Peter Sommer delivering the other highlight on this semi-ballad. The leaders collaborate on two of the last tunes with Hanson writing and Hood blowing on "Al's Well" and "Romanza." The big band heat and swing come to a dynamite conclusion, with Hanson's extended arrangement of Clifford Brown's's signature, "Joy Spring." The entire horn section takes turns delivering individual solos and has thirteen-and-a-half minutes to do so. A clever album of audacious music standing in quite contrast to those who have predicted the death of big band music, You're It! thunders through eleven fine charts performed by one of the best big band you've never heard. Hood and Hanson deliver a large ensemble set with power and awe just the kind of material lovers of big band music will devour. ~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/youre-it-jazzed-media-review-by-edward-blanco.php
 

Personnel: Al Hood: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jason Carder: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brad Goode: trumpet, flugelhorn; Mike Rodriguez: trumpet, flugelhorn; Bobby Shew: trumpet, flugelhorn; Nelson Hinds: trombone; Allen Hermann: trombone; Tom Ball: trombone; Gary Mayne: bass trombone; Rich Chiaraluce: alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Wil Swindler: alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Peter Sommer: tenor saxophone; Bob Rebholz: tenor saxophone, flute; Glenn Kostur: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Dave Hanson: piano; Ken Walker: bass; Todd Reid: drums; Malcolm Lynn Baker: conductor and musical director.

You're It!

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The H2 Big Band - It Could Happen

Styles: Jazz, Vocal, Big Band
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:39
Size: 161,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:59)  1. Hocus Pocus
(6:55)  2. Black Lace Freudian Slip
(6:41)  3. C.P. You
(5:34)  4. The Look of Love
(6:30)  5. It Could Happen To You
(7:45)  6. The Healing Hymn
(5:19)  7. I Like You
(5:45)  8. Lynda B
(5:15)  9. B in C
(5:22) 10. Autobiography
(5:31) 11. You Go To My Head

As Shakespeare wrote, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Who would dare argue with that? The point is that It Could Happen,the second recording by the H2 Big Band, is performed by a world-class ensemble. It's just not the H2 Big Band, which essentially remained home in Colorado save for its co-leaders, trumpeter Al Hood and pianist Dave Hanson. This is in fact a group of Los Angeles-based studio musicians and their kin masquerading as the H2 Big Band, and, make no mistake, doing a spot-on impersonation (in other words, smelling like a rose). And technically, as Hood and Hanson are present and accounted for, it is the H2 ensemble, or at least a close cousin thereof. As Shakespeare wrote . . .  To be fair (and accurate), one other member of the "regular" H2 Big Band is in the lineup: alto saxophonist Rich Chiaraluce who does his best to keep pace with trumpeter par excellence Carl Saunders on the memorable Johnny Burke / Jimmy van Heusen standard "It Could Happen to You," from which the album derives its name. Hanson wrote all the charts, and they are as bright and engaging as any big-band arrangements you're likely to encounter. He also composed three of the album's conclusive instrumental highlights "C.P. You," "Lynda B" and "B in C." The full band performs on eight tracks, smaller groups on the other three. A string section is added on "The Look of Love" and "Autobiography."

Even with so many thoroughbreds in the stable, the leaders apparently felt the band needed some extra horsepower (not true), so the well-known vocalist Rene Marie was enlisted to lend her talents to four numbers: Burt Bacharach / Hal David's "The Look of Love" and three of her own compositions, "Black Lace Freudian Slip," "I Like You" and "Autobiography." She's fine, in an unpretentious sort of way; enunciates clearly, respects a lyric and sings on-key. Rene Marie fares best on the fast-paced "I Like You," perhaps because it's the most charming of the four tunes on which she appears (enriched by Hanson's sharp arrangement). The "C.P." in Hanson's "C.P. You" is Cole Porter, the song his variation on Porter's standard "All of You." "Lynda B" is Hanson's salute to comic artist Lynda Barry, the bluesy "B in C" a tune originally written in the key of B but, Hanson notes, "a lot easier to play in C." The closing number is yet another high spot: Hanson's superb arrangement of the standard "You Go to My Head," with solo to match by alto Gary Foster.  Hanson, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Joe LaBarbera comprise an unflagging rhythm section, and there are inspired solos along the way by Hood (featured on Jeff Jenkins' "Healing Hymn"), trombonists Andy Martin and Bob McChesney, tenors Rob Lockart and Brandon Fields, trumpeter Ron Stout and guitarist Larry Koonse. Even without their "regular" band, co-leaders Hanson and Hood have produced another unequivocal winner. Could they do any less? It Could Happen, but don't bet on it. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/it-could-happen-al-hood-dave-hanson-origin-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php
 

Personnel: Jeff Tower: conductor;  Al Hood: co-leader, trumpet, flugelhorn;  Dave Hanson: co-leader, piano, synthesizer;  Wayne Bergeron: trumpet;  Carl Saunders: trumpet; Ron Stout: trumpet;  Gary Foster: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Rich Chiaraluce: alto sax, flute;  Rob Lockart: tenor sax, flute;  Brandon Fields: tenor sax, flute;  Adam Schroeder: baritone sax, bass clarinet;  Bob Sheppard: saxophones (1);  Andy Martin: trombone;  Bob McChesney: trombone;  Alex Iles: trombone;  Bill Reichenbach: bass trombone;  Larry Koonse: guitar (3, 4, 9, 10);  Chuck Berghofer: bass; Joe LaBarbera: drums; Luis Conte: percussion (4). Strings (tracks 4, 10) – Robert Peterson: violin; Jerry Hilera: violin; Ed Persi: viola; John Acosta: cello. Special Guest – Rene Marie: vocals (2, 4, 7, 10).

It Could Happen

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