Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:18
Size: 124.3 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[5:43] 1. Blues For Mr. P
[5:12] 2. Laura
[5:20] 3. Sentimental Journey
[5:37] 4. Vignette For Trumpet And Flugelhorn
[5:02] 5. S'wonderful
[4:00] 6. Dreamer Of Dreams
[7:37] 7. Partin ' Shots
[5:07] 8. A Time For Love
[5:05] 9. Main Street News
[5:30] 10. Evanology

Rob Parton's first CD released by Rob Parton's JAZZTECH Big Band with Conte Candoli.

One of Chicago's busiest and most versatile trumpet players, Parton is highly regarded as a studio, theatre and jazz musician, performer, educator and band leader. As a jazz musician, Parton has performed five nights a week for the past four years as featured artist at Chicago's Catch 35. The list of musicians who have played in the Rob Parton Trio is like a who's who in Chicago Jazz.

When Parton is not working in Columbus or Chicago you will often find him directing an All-State jazz band or acting as a guest artist with many high school and college jazz programs throughout the country. He has presented concerts or clinics at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, International Association of Jazz Educators convention, MENC and many other music educators conventions.

Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band

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Kathy Kosins - Mood Swings

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:04
Size: 115,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:07)  1. I Was There
(5:20)  2. Paradise
(6:02)  3. Foxey Lady
(5:35)  4. Just By Looking in Your Eyes
(3:36)  5. No Ordinary Joe
(5:53)  6. Maybe September
(3:11)  7. Livin' in Style
(3:30)  8. Between Your Heart and Mine
(5:30)  9. Love Me Like a Song
(3:47) 10. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
(3:28) 11. Melancholy Serenade

Her self-produced album showcases the Detroit native's songwriting: 7 of the 11 songs are hers. They're refreshing songs. "No Ordinary Joe" is based on the chord changes to "Pennies From Heaven." Kathy Kosins has studied the jazz repertoire, and consumed several years in creating this album. Her thin, light vocal quality, however, deters her from convincing. A veteran of pop music and R&B experiences, she's forced into a direction that holds her tightly in its grasp. Even the light, bossa nova mood on her "Love Me Like a Song" turns into an R&B experience. Other aspects of her project turn out uneven. Howard Levy isn't convincing in a smooth jazz role, while Michael King turns over a Jimi Hendrix "Foxey Lady" quite well. Remember the beautiful theme from Jackie Gleason's CBS television shows? "Melancholy Serenade" was a big, broad and beautiful showcase tune. Kosins uses it to close out the session, and the mood is lost. One high point comes through "Between Your Heart and Mine," with its Lambert, Hendricks and Ross sentiment. An upbeat original, the song swings with lyrics and scat in an uplifting scene. Kosins swings merrily, but not with the soulful expression needed for these mood swings. ~ Jim Santella

Personnel: Kathy Kosins- vocal; Rick Roe, Ellen Rowe, Paul Libman- piano; Gary Nester- synths; Paul Keller, Eric Hochberg- bass; Gerald Cleaver, Danny Cox, Pete Siers- drums; Ruben Alvarez, Dennis Sheridan- percussion; Dave Onderdonk, Michael King- guitar; Larry Nozaro, Keith Kaminsky- alto saxophone; Andrew Bishop, Jim Gailloreto, Shawn "Thunder" Wallace- tenor saxophone; David Luther- baritone saxophone; Rob Parton, Jeff Stout, Paul Finkbeiner- trumpet; Tim Coffman, Chris Smith- trombone; Howard Levy- harmonica on "Paradise;" Jim Gwinn- cymbals on "Melancholy Serenade;" Michael Whalen- vibraphone, strings on "Melancholy Serenade;" Rob Ripho- vibraphone on "Maybe September;" Sunny Wilkinson- added vocal on "Just By Looking In Your Eyes."

Mood Swings

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Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - Two Different Days

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:05
Size: 172,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. Soon
(7:11)  2. On A Misty Night
(3:50)  3. Speak Low
(8:13)  4. How Deep Is The Ocean
(5:27)  5. Take The 'A' Train
(3:56)  6. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
(6:43)  7. Blue Daniel
(5:41)  8. Never Will I Marry
(5:41)  9. My One And Only Love
(6:39) 10. Bernie's Tune
(4:46) 11. Blue Getz Blues
(6:06) 12. Two Different Days
(5:09) 13. She's Gone

Two Different Days and one terrific band. This is the sixth album recorded by trumpeter Rob Parton's cyclonic ensemble from the Windy City, and while every one of them has been spectacular in its own way, this one may well earn the blue ribbon as best in show. Simply put, this is a band that has everything scrupulous section work, stalwart soloists and a superb rhythm section spearheaded by Chicago's premier big band drummer, Bob Rummage. But even though the competition is fierce, what sets Days apart from Parton's earlier albums, in this reviewer's opinion, is his splendid choice of material, which leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. It's almost as if Parton said to his sidemen, "Let's get together in a studio and record some songs that Jack Bowers would really appreciate." That didn't happen, of course, but it may as well have, as the outcome is the same. Any album that opens with a mind-blowing arrangement of George Gershwin's "Soon," as this one does, has laid a hammerlock on my heart from the outset. That's the first of five markedly impressive charts by ace writer Don Schamber, complementing two apiece by Thomas Matta, Chris Madsen and Kirk Garrison, trombonist Tom Garling's dynamic "Two Different Days" and Cliff Colnot's ethereal orchestration (with string section) of Chuck Mangione's soulful "She's Gone." Parton, one of that rare breed of trumpeters who plays jazz as well as he plays lead and that's about as well as anyone can is showcased on "Speak Low," "My One and Only Love" and "She's Gone," tenor saxophonist Mark Colby on the debonair "Blue Getz Blues," Garling on bass trombonist Matta's fast-paced treatment of the venerable Tommy Dorsey theme "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." 

Matta also arranged Tadd Dameron's bop classic "On a Misty Night," which houses handsome solos by pianist Don Stille, flugel Ron Ruvio and guest alto Mike Smith. Trumpeter Garrison shares the solo spotlight with Colby on Frank Rosolino's "Blue Daniel," and with Colby, lead alto Bob Frankich and trombonist Tim Coffman on Bernie Miller's "Bernie's Tune," both of which he arranged. Stille and Parton are unerring on Madsen's arrangement of "Never Will I Marry," Garling and guitarist Chris Siebold the same on Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean," another Schamber chart, as is Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train" (solos by Stille, tenor Brian Budzik, trombonist Brian Jacobi, baritone Ted Hogarth). Coffman, Colby and trumpeter Mike McGrath present well-crafted statements on "Soon," Garling and trumpeter Ruvio on "Two Different Days." Parton, who has been presiding over the JazzTech Big Band for more than two decades, says the ensemble has found its identity "as a straight-ahead, swingin', hometown Chicago band performing because we love to play creative and original big-band Jazz." That's more than mere philosophy; it's an undeniable fact, one that Two Different Days, one of the year's most impressive big band albums, readily underscores and emphatically affirms. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/two-different-days-rob-parton-sea-breeze-jazz-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Rob Parton, leader, trumpet, flugelhorn;  Scott Wagstaff, Kirk Garrison, Mike McGrath, August Haas (7, 10), Fred Powell (3, 4, 9, 10),  Marty Tilton (1, 5), trumpet;  Bob Frankich, Ken Partyka (6, 8), alto sax;  Bob Reszutko, alto sax, flute;  Mark Colby, Brian Budzik, tenor sax;  Ted Hogarth, baritone sax;  Tom Garling, Tim Coffman (2-4, 9), Andy Baker (1, 5, 7, 10), Brian Jacobi (1-5, 7, 9, 10-12), Dan Johnson (6, 8), Bryan Tipps (1, 3-9), trombone; Thomas Matta, bass trombone; Don Stille, piano; Chris Siebold, guitar; Tim Fox, bass; Bob Rummage, drums. Guest artist -- Mike Smith (2), alto sax.

Two Different Days

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Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - Just One Of Those Things

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:35
Size: 147.9 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:19] 1. Lickety Split
[4:15] 2. Prelude To A Kiss
[4:50] 3. Heads Up
[5:29] 4. Infant Eyes
[5:22] 5. Black Nile
[4:09] 6. Joy Spring
[5:53] 7. You've Changed
[6:33] 8. It Might As Well Be Spring
[5:15] 9. I'll Close My Eyes
[4:51] 10. Just One Of Those Things
[4:42] 11. It Never Entered My Mind
[7:53] 12. Knee Deep In Rio

Rob Parton, leader, trumpet, flugelhorn; Scott Wagstaff: trumpet; Kirk Garrison: trumpet; Mike McGrath: trumpet; Terry Connell: trumpet; Bob Frankich: alto sax; Bob Rzeszutko: alto sax (1, 3, 6, 8-10, 12); Ken Partyka: alto sax (2, 4, 5, 7, 11); Mark Colby: tenor sax; Brian Budzik: tenor sax; Ted Hogarth: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Tom Garling: trombone; Tim Coffman: trombone (1-3, 6, 8-10, 12); Andy Baker: trombone (2, 4, 5, 7, 11), Brian Jacobi: trombone; Tom Matta: bass trombone; JoAnn Daugherty: piano (1, 3, 6, 8-10, 12), Don Stille: piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 11); Tim Fox: acoustic, electric bass; Bob Rummage: drums (1-7, 9-11), Tom Hipskind: drums (8, 12); Evan Ryan, percussion.

There aren't many big bands that are as consistently impressive in a studio as they are in person. Here's one that is—trumpeter Rob Parton's strapping, Chicago-based JazzTech Big Band. Parton's secret? It's not hard to comprehend. Enlist the best players one can find, give them bright and elaborate charts to sink their chops into, then stand aside and let 'em roar. Except Parton does much more than stand aside. He also quarterbacks the ensemble's superlative trumpet section and produces splendid solos on both trumpet and flugelhorn ("You've Changed, Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes ). It never hurts the cause to have sharp-shooting soloists, and Parton has rounded up and deputized a number of the Chicago area's fastest and most sure-handed gunslingers. Tenor saxophonist Mark Colby scores well-aimed bull's-eyes on Tom Garling's "Lickety Split and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," as do trombonist Tim Coffman on Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss, trumpeter Terry Connell on Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring, pianist JoAnn Daugherty on "I'll Close My Eyes, and bass trombonist Tom Matta on his seductive arrangement of Rodgers and Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind. Colby, trumpeter Kirk Garrison, bassist Tim Fox and drummer Tom Hipskind empty their side arms on the breezy finale, "Knee Deep in Rio.

Trombonist Tom Garling composed and arranged "Lickety Split, "Heads Up and "Rio, and solos smartly with Daugherty on "Heads Up, Colby on "Black Nile and alto Bob Frankich on Don Schamber's sunny arrangement of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "It Might as Well Be Spring. Schamber also scored "I'll Close My Eyes, complementing admirable charts by Paul McKee ("Kiss, "Infant Eyes, "Black Nile ), Matta ("Joy Spring ), Chris Madsen ("One of Those Things ) and the late Frank Mantooth ("You've Changed ). Brass and reeds combine formidable power with due respect for color and dynamics, while the rhythm section, anchored on ten tracks by drummer Bob Rummage, on two by Hipskind, performs with the impeccable timing and reliability of a Swiss watch. Daugherty, the band's newest member, makes an auspicious debut as she shares keyboard duties with veteran Don Stille, while Fox and percussionist Evan Ryan provide indispensable balance. On Just One of Those Things, Parton's intrepid JazzTech Big Band readily enhances its proven stature as a world-class jazz ensemble. An early pacesetter in the Record of the Year sweepstakes. ~Jack Bowers

Just One Of Those Things

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Lisa Lauren - My Own Twist

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:31
Size: 93,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Sweet Seasons
(4:19)  2. A Shame
(6:06)  3. Life Goes On
(4:27)  4. My Own Twist
(2:59)  5. It Sucks To Be You
(3:55)  6. That's All She Wrote
(4:09)  7. A Little Romance
(3:36)  8. Here Comes The Sun
(3:29)  9. A Guy Thing
(3:28) 10. Yours And Mine

For all the hype in 2002 surrounding jazz hybrid vocalist Norah Jones, she can't really hold a candle to the far superior, multi-faceted Lauren, an indie artist from Chicago who artfully blends pop and jazz influences with a dash or two of country and worldbeat. So it's promotion that's missing. Or is it the narrow play lists of adult contemporary and smooth jazz stations which would rather stick with tried-and-trues and Mariah Carey and Sade instead of allowing new voices in the mix Lauren went Beatles-happy on her previous CD, and here does a cool jazz seduction with "Here Comes the Sun," also playing an elegant, purposeful piano line that challenges Fareed Haque's strumming guitar and Jim Gailloreto's silky soprano sax to keep up. 

More high-profile sax contributions come from none other than David Sanborn on the sassy, Steely Dan-inspired "A Shame," whose lyrics brim with attitude and wistful energy; Lauren sounds a bit like Marilyn Scott on this tune, and that's a compliment. Fellow Chicagoan and smooth jazz guy Steve Cole offers a tender soprano line behind one of Lauren's more romantic moments on "A Little Romance." "Life Goes On" is designed as a quartet piece, with soft, seductive drum brushes easing past a tender-hearted delivery of a lyric pondering love's mysteries. Lauren sometimes runs the risk of being overshadowed by her high-profile personnel, such as on this tune, where Fareed Haque's credit reads "homage to Pat Metheny." In the end, though, she more than holds her own. Lauren's a strong vocalist and honest songwriter, but she's also aces with cover tunes, making old songs like Carole King's "Sweet Seasons" sound fresh via colorful arrangements (this one with harmonica-laced country seasoning). ~ Jonathan Widran  http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-own-twist-mw0000210489

Personnel: Lisa Lauren (piano, keyboards); Fareed Haque (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Inger Carle, Susan Voelz (violin); Stacia Spencer (viola); Alison Chesley (cello); Jim Gailloreto (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Sanborn (alto saxophone); Rob Parton (trumpet); Mike Halpin (trombone); John Blasucci (keyboards); Steve Rodby (acoustic bass); Jeff Thomas (drums, percussion); Kevin Connelley, Larry Beers, Tom Hipskind (drums).

My Own Twist

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Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - The Count Is In

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:15
Size: 149.4 MB
Styles: Post bop, Big band
Year: 1993/2011
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Seems Like Old Times
[6:28] 2. The Count Is In
[5:19] 3. Over The Rainbow
[8:26] 4. Dear Old Stockholm
[3:06] 5. Blue Skies
[5:56] 6. To Love And Be Loved
[4:59] 7. Doxy
[5:13] 8. When I Fall In Love
[6:53] 9. I Like Bebop
[5:25] 10. Prelude To A Kiss
[5:14] 11. Summertime
[4:09] 12. Giant Steps

Recording Date: July 19, 1992 - July 23, 1992

Rob Parton is still considered to be one of Chicago’s busiest and versatile trumpet players. While he is well known and highly regarded as a trumpet artist, performer, educator and bandleader, he is also active within the academic side of higher education at Capital University in Columbus Ohio. Parton has been the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Capital University in Columbus Ohio since Fall 2010. Prior to this position, Parton was a tenured, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Trumpet in Chicago.

The Rob Parton Big Band continues to live on in Chicago at FitzGerald’s Nightclub. Although the band is not performing on a monthly basis, it is performing a handful of dates each year including special jazz festivals and concerts. In addition to live performing, Rob Parton has earned national and international accolades for his seven critically acclaimed compact discs’ on the Sea Breeze Jazz label.

The Count Is In

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Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - What Are We Here For?

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:26
Size: 140.6 MB
Styles: Big band, Post bop
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[9:58] 1. Party Hearty
[6:30] 2. What Am I Here For
[3:24] 3. Just A Pretty Little Thing
[4:51] 4. When Sunny Gets Blue
[2:09] 5. Deed I Do
[6:07] 6. How Deep Is The Ocean
[6:34] 7. Loved One
[4:34] 8. It's Only A Paper Moon
[7:03] 9. Sail Away
[5:41] 10. My Romance
[4:29] 11. On Green Dolphin Street

Rob Parton is still considered to be one of Chicago’s busiest and versatile trumpet players. While he is well known and highly regarded as a trumpet artist, performer, educator and bandleader, he is also active within the academic side of higher education at Capital University in Columbus Ohio. Parton has been the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Capital University in Columbus Ohio since Fall 2010. Prior to this position, Parton was a tenured, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Trumpet in Chicago.

What Are We Here For   

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Rob Parton Big Band - We'll Be Together Again

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:03
Size: 147,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Serenade To A Bus Seat
(6:04)  2. Tetragon
(4:58)  3. Ugly Beauty
(7:00)  4. I Love You
(4:30)  5. Movt I. Gold: Fantasy For Trumpet And Jazz Orchestra
(3:51)  6. Movt II. Cooper: Fantasy For Trumpet And Jazz Orchestra
(6:22)  7. Movt III.  Silver: Fantasy For Trumpet And Jazz Orchestra
(8:37)  8. Coda
(7:46)  9. We'll Be Together Again
(6:55) 10. Blue In Green
(4:02) 11. I Remember You

I am very proud that each and every one of these fantastic musicians are on this CD. I wish I had more space to acknowledge and thank them but that would give them more ammunition to harass me! They are my Chicago family and some of the very best musicians anywhere. Thank you for being a part of this recording. A very special thanks to my family Kristy, Mitchell, Louis, and Sarah. Their support has been the strength and inspiration of my musical life and career. Thank you Andy Baker and Ken Partyka for your proofreading abilities. Kristy’s devotion to the band has been wonderful over the years. You will see a long overdue solo CD featuring the talents of Kristy Parton very soon!  Thank you to Dave Schumacher for being a regular in the band for two years. I’m really sorry you weren’t in town to do these recordings. Thanks to Marques Carroll, BJ Levy, Chuck Parrish, Scott Burns, Bob Lark, Luke Malewicz, Bryant Scott, Jeremy Kahn, Peter Saxe, and Paul Martin, for subbing on the band numerous times over the past two years and beyond. 

Thanks to the fantastic musicians in Chicago, too many to mention here, who helped out in rehearsals at the start of this band. Another special thanks to the Arito family for always giving me an awesome place to crash when in Chicago! After disbanding the JAZZTECH Big Band for a couple of months, I quickly realized that I could not be the creative musician/leader I am, without running a professional jazz orchestra. Initially I thought, If I were to create another band, I would want to perform music that was more cutting edge and original. This music would need to offer the musicians a musical challenge like no other band in Chicago. At first we were playing the music of Chuck Owens, Maria Schneider, and Bob Mintzer. Once the band got rolling, music started coming in from Kendall Moore, Chris Madsen, Eric Richards and others. I think we have settled somewhere in the middle from where we started the new RPBB in 2009 and the swing of the JAZZTECH Big Band of the 90’s. 

This recording project was completed in two recording sessions which featured all live solos with the exception of my solos on Fantasy for Trumpet. It simply was too much to conduct and play at the same time! The musicians did a great job in spite of these six-hour recording sessions. Thanks again guys! I truly hope you enjoy this collection of music as it represents a new beginning for me and the Rob Parton Big Band in Chicago and someday possibly in Columbus Ohio. Thank you to all of the very special people who support my band. You know who you are!  Peace and Love, Rob Parton  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robpartonbigband

We'll Be Together Again

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