Mike Vax - On A Jazz Mission

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:37
Size: 104.4 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Louis Meets The Bird (Back Home In Indiana Donna Lee)
[4:00] 2. Freddie Freeloader
[2:35] 3. Day By Day
[4:21] 4. A Night In Tunisia
[4:56] 5. Night Of The Capricorn Moon
[2:30] 6. Trumpet Blues And Cantabile
[3:42] 7. Wild Man Blues
[5:17] 8. Kiss And Run
[1:50] 9. Lickety Split
[5:34] 10. I Can't Get Started
[4:38] 11. Short Stop
[2:37] 12. Heckler's Hop

Acoustic Bass – Bill Langlois; Cornet – Mike Vax; Drums – Eric Thompson; Flugelhorn – Bob Doll, Mike Vax, Steve Campos, Warren Gale; Guitar – Steve Draper; Keyboards – Larry Dunlap; Piano – Larry Dunlap; Trumpet – Bob Doll, Mike Vax, Steve Campos, Warren Gale; Trumpet [Piccolo] – Mike Vax; Wind Chimes – Larry Dunlap.

As a recording musician, Mike has performed on more than 75 albums, including 20 under his own name. Mike has done workshops and concerts in over 2500 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities all around the world over the past 40 years. He is very active as a clinician and soloist in both the classical and jazz idioms.

TRPTS (Trumpets) was formed in 1985 as an experimental group to bring the history of jazz trumpet to audiences through performing voiced out solos from famous jazz trumpet players, playing music associated with trumpet jazz over the years, and also presenting new music written for especially for us. The CD “Transforming Traditons” (Later re-issued as “On a Jazz Mission” on Summit Records) has sold over 25,000 copies. The group has performed all over the United States. Our roster has included at different times: Mike Vax, Wayne Bergeron, Carl Saunders, Clay Jenkins, Claudio Roditi, Jeff Jarvis, Andrea Toffanelli, Steve Campos, Bob Doll, Warren Gale, and John Capobianco.

On A Jazz Mission

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Mike Vax, Ron Romm - Collaboration

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125.0 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[7:22] 1. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[3:27] 2. Cornet Chop Suey
[3:07] 3. My Pal Yachee
[3:31] 4. I Remember Clifford
[3:00] 5. Up Jumped Spring
[3:46] 6. Haydn Trumpet Concerto
[4:51] 7. Collaboration
[3:11] 8. Lenny Leaps Out
[3:19] 9. The Brave Matador
[4:59] 10. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
[6:11] 11. Theme From Summer Of '42
[7:44] 12. Sweet Emma

“If you, like me, love great trumpet playing, Collaboration (Summit – 713) by MIKE VAX & RON ROMM is a must have album. Vax is best known for his time spent as the lead trumpet on Stan Kenton’s Orchestra, and his subsequent efforts to keep the Kenton legacy alive through many educational projects and leadership of the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra. Romm was a founder and long time member of the Canadian Brass and currently serves as Professor of Trumpet at the University of Illinois. These two gentlemen have been friends for decades, and have talked about recording together for much of that time, but until recently circumstances stood in the way of that happening. Now that it has occurred, the world is a better place. They laid down twelve tracks, most of them with Jack Peterson on guitar, Ioannis Goudelis on piano, Selwyn Reams on bass and Clive Huff on drums. There are guest appearances by Dr. David Hickman on trumpet, Tony Vacca on reeds, Scott Whitfield on trombone, Joel Robin on piano, and Avis Romm on piano. Trying to single out any of the tracks for special mention is unfair to those not so recognized, so just suffice to say that no matter which track you hear, “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “Cornet Chop Suey,” “My Pal Vachee,” “I Remember Clifford,” “Up Jumped Spring,” “Hayden Trumpet Concerto, Movement Two – Andante,” “Collaboration,” “Lenny Leaps Out,” “The Brave Matador,” “just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “The Summer Knows” or “Sweet Emma,” you will be transported to a magic place where trumpets rule the day. As the titles indicate, a lot of musical ground is covered, all of it as tastefully and musically adept as possible. This is a Collaboration in the best sense of the word.” ~Joseph Lang

Collaboration mc
Collaboration zippy

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The Mike Vax Big Band - Next Stop, Live... On The Road

Size: 140,4 MB
Time: 60:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. On The Street Where You Live ( 2:14)
02. Young Blood ( 4:18)
03. Pegasus ( 4:07)
04. Appearing In Cleveland (14:21)
05. Young And Foolish ( 6:39)
06. My Foolish Heart ( 5:25)
07. Intermission Riff ( 4:01)
08. Vax Attacks ( 3:38)
09. We Miss You Dickus ( 7:59)
10. The Party's Over ( 2:35)
11. The Love Theme From Hair (Bonus Track) ( 4:52)

Bless you Mike, for keeping the faith. Not just for schlepping your 19 sidemen on the bus again, but for spreading the Gospel According to Stan in the process. Vax and many alumni of the Kenton band underwent all the inconveniences of being on the road, yet they overcame uneven audio systems (recording live at various venues) to create an excellent hour-plus of consistent exuberance.

The essential Kenton flavor runs through "Appearing in Cleveland," mainly due to the Bob Florence arrangement that updates familiar Kenton themes. But there are other heroes in that 14-minute tone poem, especially the constant pushing by drummer Jamie Tate, plus well-crafted solos by baritone saxophonist Joel Kaye and tenorist Pete Gallio. Talk about solos--three other tracks must be singled out. "Intermission Riff" is highlighted by the unerring intonation of bassist Chris Symer.

Few pianists have the sensitive touch of Bob Florence. His delicate keyboard approach to "Young and Foolish" can induce tears if the mood is right. Finally, on "My Foolish Heart" trumpeter Carl Saunders' solo, climaxing with a breathtaking high E, should be transcribed and distributed to every collegiate jazz program in the country. ~By Harvey Siders

Next Stop, Live... On The Road

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The Stan Kenton Alumni Band - Road Scholars (Live)

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:06
Size: 157,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:20)  1. Neverbird
(4:08)  2. I Have Dreamed
(5:11)  3. Stompin' at the Savoy
(6:33)  4. Chico & The Man
(6:07)  5. Sneaky
(5:10)  6. Yesterdays
(3:56)  7. Beautiful Friendship
(6:32)  8. Stockholm Sweetnin'
(6:13)  9. Cinnamon & Clove
(3:47) 10. Nessun Dorma
(2:41) 11. Lullaby of Broadway
(3:16) 12. Reed Rapture
(7:14) 13. Alex Revisited
(1:53) 14. America the Beautiful

Road Scholars? A clever title indeed, but these gentlemen (and three ladies) are more akin to "road maestros," an appraisal that is abundantly clear from A to Z on this latest recording by trumpeter Mike Vax's turbo-charged Stan Kenton Alumni Band, taped at various concerts during the band's 2013 spring tour, a two-week, three-thousand-mile odyssey that encompassed a dozen concerts in six states and the District of Columbia. About four thousand people were lucky enough to see and hear the band in person; the rest of us will have to make do with these fourteen imperfect snapshots culled from its series of remarkable performances. The word "imperfect" is used not owing to any weakness in the band itself but simply because there is nothing as impressive or inspiring as seeing a band such as this while seated in the audience. 

Be that as it may, inserting this recording in a CD player and pressing "play" is the next best thing to being there. The repertoire runs the gamut from Jose Feliciano to Giacomo Puccini, Jerome Kern to Quincy Jones, the band is sharp and smokin' from the outset, and there's never a letdown during almost seventy minutes of splendid music-making. The disc opens, appropriately enough, with trumpeter Ray Brown's free and easy flag-waver, "Neverbird," written in honor of Kenton's tour bus, which bore that nickname, but never recorded by the Kenton orchestra. Agile solos courtesy of tenor Pete Gallio and trumpeter Carl Saunders, exemplary timekeeping (as is always the case) by drummer Gary Hobbs and bassist Jennifer Leitham. Trombonist Dale DeVoe arranged Rodgers and Hammerstein's "I Have Dreamed" (from The King and I), on which he solos with trumpeter Don Rader and the band's youngest member, pianist Charlie Ferguson. The litmus test for any big band is Bill Holman's classic arrangement of "Stompin' at the Savoy," and if the Kenton alums don't ace it they come extremely close, thanks to forceful blowing by the ensemble and persuasive solos from Ferguson, Rader, Leitham and tenor Rick Condit. Feliciano's lyrical theme from "Chico and the Man" is next (solos by Vax and Condit), followed by trumpeter Steve Huffsteter's impish original, "Sneaky" (on which he is out front with Gallio, Saunders and alto Kim Richmond) and another memorable Holman chart, "Yesterdays," with Condit sitting in for its catalyst, the late Bill Perkins. 

Rader, Richmond and Ferguson shine again on Rick Stitzel's lively arrangement of the standard "A Beautiful Friendship." Besides playing great trombone, Scott Whitfield is one-half of a delightful singing duo with Ginger Berglund , and they are simply marvelous on Quincy Jones' Stockholm Sweetnin'" and Johnny Mandel's "Cinnamon and Clove," after which Vax's soaring trumpet is showcased on Puccini's enchanting "Nessun Dorma," an aria immortalized by tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Whitfield is the soloist on Harry Warren's engaging "Lullaby of Broadway," nicely arranged by Lennie Niehaus for Kenton's dance book, which precedes the album's lone Kenton composition / arrangement, "Reed Rapture," a sumptuous tone poem for the saxophones (sans rhythm section) written in 1940. The band rings down the curtain with DeVoe's debonair "Alex Revisited," a close cousin to his equally well-knit "Alex's Tune," which debuted on the band's earlier album Sounds from the Road (Summit 518), and DeVoe's powerful Kenton-inspired arrangement of Samuel Ward's "America the Beautiful." DeVoe, Ferguson, Hobbs and baritone Phil Hilger solo on "Alex Revisited." 

Apart from its obvious awareness and proficiency, this truly is an alumni band, as no less than a dozen of the twenty members including everyone in the trumpet section once played with the renowned Stan Kenton Orchestra. Needless to say, that kind of experience is worth more than its weight in gold. The Kenton alliance extends to three of the saxophonists, three trombonists and, perhaps most decisively, to drummer Hobbs who teams with Leitham to act as the ensemble's unerring compass, reinforced along the way by percussionist Dee Huffsteter. To observe that these Road Scholars have passed every test would be an understatement. Even with sound that is inescapably variable, the band rises above every obstacle to produce a recording whose excellence would surely have left Kenton himself beaming with pride. ~ Jack Bowers  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/stan-kenton-alumni-band-road-scholars-by-jack-bowers.php#.VBoThRawTP8

Personnel: Mike Vax: trumpet, music director; Dennis Noday: trumpet; Carl Saunders: trumpet; Don Rader: trumpet; Steve Huffsteter: trumpet; Kim Richmond: alto sax; Pete Gallio: tenor sax; Rick Condit: tenor sax; Joel Kaye: baritone sax; Phil Hilger: baritone sax; Roy Wiegand: trombone; Dale DeVoe: trombone; Kenny Shroyer: trombone; Scott Whitfield: trombone, vocals; Rich Bullock: bass trombone; Charlie Ferguson: piano; Jennifer Leitham: bass; Gary Hobbs: drums; Dee Huffsteter: percussion; Ginger Berglund: vocals.

Road Scholars (Live)

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Mike Vax & Clark Terry - Creepin' With Clark

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 56:51
Size: 130.2 MB
Styles: Neo-bop,Trumpet jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[4:16] 1. Serenade To A Bus Seat
[5:37] 2. Just A Simple Waltz
[3:47] 3. Royal Street Shuffle
[6:36] 4. Creole Love Call
[6:02] 5. Sweet Emma
[4:51] 6. Struttin' With Some Bbq
[5:06] 7. Sheba
[5:59] 8. Creepin' With Clark
[8:31] 9. Jive At Five
[6:03] 10. One Foot In The Gutter

Although Mike Vax is a talented trumpeter and flügelhornist, it's hard not to be upstaged by a guest the caliber of Clark Terry. Fortunately these two men realize that this studio session is not a competition, but instead an old friendship that is focused on producing great music. The supporting cast includes the talented but underappreciated trombonist John Allred, young pianist Reggie Thomas, veteran bassist Rufus Reid, and Terry's regular drummer Sylvia Cuenca. Vax contributed the lively "Royal Street Shuffle," which is driven by Thomas' strong boogie-woogie piano, and the oddly named "Creepin' With Clark," as there's nothing slow-paced about this swinger! Vax's deliberate arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Creole Love Call" opens with just Terry's flügelhorn and Allred's trombone, before Vax adds his muted trumpet as the rest of the group joins in; Terry's following gutbucket muted solo is inspired. Terry's fat-toned flügelhorn is immediately identifiable on his old composition, the upbeat "Serenade to a Bus Seat," which features great solos by the entire group. The two leaders' horns blend beautifully in Terry's "Just a Simple Waltz," and they take turns caressing his rich ballad "Sheba." The tasty dessert at the end of this CD is actually served in two courses. First, Terry's treatment of the late Harry "Sweets" Edison's easygoing "Jive at Five" features him alternating between his matchless scat singing and his muted trumpet. The finale finds Terry alternating between muted trumpet and flügelhorn on his funky "One Foot in the Gutter." Highly recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Creepin' With Clark

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The Mike Vax Big Band - BigBandJazz.net

Size: 172,5 MB
Time: 74:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Big Band
Art: Front

01. Alex's Tune (6:28)
02. Seascape (5:22)
03. La Virgen De La Macarena (6:23)
04. Mr. Natural (5:26)
05. Pennies From Heaven (2:55)
06. I'm Glad There Is You (3:18)
07. On A Slow Boat To China (4:11)
08. Boney (6:07)
09. Baubles, Bangles & Beads (3:19)
10. Autumn In New York (6:26)
11. Variations On A Brazilian Folk Song (7:52)
12. Oblivion (5:07)
13. Malaguena (5:16)
14. All The Things You Are (Bonus Track) (6:17)

Trumpeter Mike Vax has come up with an interesting idea, using his latest album to promote the web site bigbandjazz.net, which in turn promotes the Oakland, CA–based non–profit group Friends of Big Band Jazz (FBBJ), whose worthy goal is to help keep big–band Jazz alive for future generations. FBBJ supports and promotes performances by the MVJO, proceeds from which are used to provide opportunities for young musicians to pursue their interest in big–band Jazz through summer camps and other musical programs and events. While buying a copy (or more) of the CD helps FBBJ spread the word about big–band Jazz, an even better reason to do so is that the MVJO is a conspicuously high–powered ensemble molded in the image of the celebrated Stan Kenton Orchestra, and bigbandjazz.net encompasses more than seventy–two minutes of eminently rewarding big–band Jazz. In short, it’s a kick to hear and appreciate music as bright and admirable as this. Section work is crisp and unerring, soloists alert and resourceful. The orchestra comes out swinging on the first of five well–crafted originals, Dave Hanson’s bouncy “Royal Rendezvous” (solos by tenor Scott Peterson and trumpeter Mike Olmos). Vax is the soloist on the sensuous “Love Theme from Hair,” which precedes buoyant new works by Howard Cespedes (“Sunday Variations”) and Bob Washut (“Hoofin’”). Guest Cami Thompson is up next, offering the first of her two amiable vocals, on Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate on You“ (she’s also heard on Michel Legrand’s “The Way He Makes Me Feel”). There are two versions of the electrifying “Virgen de Macarena,” the first with solos by Vax and Peterson (on soprano), the second (which closes the album) featuring Vax alone. The orchestra settles into a genial groove on “That Old Feeling,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” and a surprisingly persuasive reading of the theme from “Naked Gun.” Peterson and trombonist Scott Tingle are the soloists on “Feeling,” Olmos, alto Antony Pickard, guitarist Randy Vincent and guest conguero Raul Rekow on “Dance,” Olmos, Vax, pianist Max Perkoff, baritone Doug Rowan and bassist Mario Suraci on “Gun.” Lennie Niehaus’ explosive “Vax Attacks,” with fiery comments by Vax and Peterson, is reminiscent of the great Maynard Ferguson bands of the ’60s, while Frank Foster’s “Blues in Hoss Flat” (solos by pianist Si Perkoff, trumpeter George Spencer, trombonist Mara Fox) is torn straight from the Basie book. Sandwiched between them is Rolf Johnson’s rhythmic “Ice Nine,” whose soloists are Rowan (on bass clarinet) and alto Rory Snyder. Great big–band Jazz for a worthy cause; in the words of Ira Gershwin, who could ask for anything more? ~Jack Bowers

Personnel: Mike Vax, leader, trumpet, flugelhorn; Rory Snyder, alto, soprano sax, flute, piccolo; Antony Pickard, alto sax, flute; Scott Peterson, tenor, soprano sax, flute; Brenda Thompson, tenor sax, flute; Doug Rowan, baritone sax, bass clarinet; Dan Fava, Rolf Johnson, Mike Olmos, George Spencer, trumpet, flugelhorn; Troy Oswald, Mara Fox, Peggy Vax, trombone; Chip Tingle, Steve Trapani, bass trombone; Si Perkoff, piano; Max Perkoff (9), piano, electric keyboard; Randy Vincent, guitar; Mario Suraci, acoustic bass; Dan Parenti (5), electric bass; Kent Bryson, drums. Guest artists

BigBandJazz.net

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The Mike Vax Big Band - Sounds From The Road

Size: 173,4 MB
Time: 74:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. Alex's Tune (6:28)
02. Seascape (5:22)
03. La Virgen De La Macarena (6:23)
04. Mr. Natural (5:26)
05. Pennies From Heaven (2:52)
06. I'm Glad There Is You (3:18)
07. On A Slow Boat To China (4:11)
08. Boney (6:07)
09. Baubles, Bangles & Beads (3:19)
10. Autumn In New York (6:26)
11. Variations On A Brazilian Folk Song (7:52)
12. Oblivion (5:07)
13. Malaguena (5:16)
14. All The Things You Are (Bonus Track) (6:17)

The traveling autobus—the road to the road—has frequently been used as a symbolic metaphor in movies, books, commercials and, of course, songs of all kinds. Bus travel seems to have an oddly romantic element. In the halcyon days of the barnstorming big bands, bus and car travel were the only direct ways to get to the gigs. Now that this bit of musical Americana is history, it takes awesome nerve for Mike Vax to briefly resurrect the concept of a bus-touring big band traveling America. And for world-class musicians to sign on to Vax's tour is testimony to the respect he garners from players.

Sounds from the Road has all the excitement (and then some) that one might expect from former Stan Kenton
lead trumpeter Vax and this crew of former Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman and other big band alums. Led by Vax's incredible lead and solo playing, this effort is a tour, alright—a tour de force of superb big band jazz and solo artistry.

Recorded live during the 2008 tour, Sounds from the Road sends up 14 first-class big band selections. As one might expect from a Kentonista, the arrangements are big, brash and full of brass balls. "Alex's Tune" kicks off the CD swinging hard and heavy. Other selections showcase the talents of big band stars such as trumpeters Carl Saunders
(on a beautifully Don Fagerquist-tinged "Autumn in New York") and Steve Huffsteter (who also offers up two terrific arrangements, the Oliver Nelson-esque "Mr. Natural" and trombone showcase, "Boney."). Songbook classics such as "Pennies from Heaven;" Kenton's own wonderfully arranged "I'm Glad There Is You;" the slickly arranged vocal "On a Slow Boat to China;" "All the Things You Are" and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" are impeccably played with a balance and respect for subtle dynamics and shading. "Malaguena," "Variations on a Brazilian Folk Song" and "La Virgen de la Macarena" add the spicy Latin flair the Stan Kenton band delivered.

The rhythm section here, especially drummer Gary Hobbs, drives the ensemble to the heights of swing. Sadly, this was one of the last recordings by the legendary pianist/composer/arranger Bob Florence
.

Those believing that the epitaph is to be written for big band might reconsider, based on Sounds from the Road. It is testimony not only to the greatness of these wonderful musicians and composer/arrangers, but also the very concept of the jazz big band. Sounds from the Road sounds marvelous. ~Nicholas F. Mondello

Personnel: Kim Richmond: soprano sax, alto sax, flute; Pete Gallio: tenor sax, flute; Alex Murzyn: tenor sax, flute; Keith Kaminski: bari sax, alto sax, flute; Scott Peterson: bari sax; Joel Kaye: bari sax, bass sax, flute; Mike Vax (leader), Dennis Noday, Carl Saunders, Steve Huffsteter, Don Rader, Dan Fava: trumpet and flugelhorn; Roy Wiegand, Dale DeVoe, Scott Whitfield, Curtis Fox: trombone; Kenny Shroyer: bass trombone; Mike Suter: bass trombone, tuba; Bob Florence, Bob Kafka: piano; Chris Symer: bass; Gary Hobbs: drums; Dee Huffsteter: Latin percussion; Scott Whitfield, Ginger Berglund: vocals.

Sounds From The Road

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