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January 2002
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Another Year, Another List . . .
By Jack Bowers
One of manÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs favorite pastimes at the end of each year seems to be making list of the best or worst oneÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂthingÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂorÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂanother. Since we canÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt beat ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂem we may as well join ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂem. As I donÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt like to use the words ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂbestÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂworstÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ when referring to bigÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂband Jazz, I have prepared a list of twenty outstanding bigÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂband albums reviewed here during 2001 that caught my ear, and am enumerating them for your consideration in roughly descending order, starting with...
- Vezinho / Ward Big Band, Smile (DABMusic; no number)
- SWR Big Band with Bob Florence, Goldener Meilenstein (CK Records 00701)
- University of Cincinnati CollegeÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂConservatory of Music, Serenade in Blue (Sea Breeze Vista 4540).
- Gordon GoodwinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Big Phat Band, SwinginÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ for the Fences (Silverline 81017)
- Steve Spiegl Big Band, Enigma (Sorcerer 1003)
- Pete Cater Big Band, Upswing! (Vocalion 6801)
- Ian Pearce Big Band, Prelude to the Blues (Big Musik 012)
- DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, Live at the Jazz Showcase (DPUJE 004)
- Stan Kenton Alumni, Back to Balboa, Vol. 6 (MAMA 1028)
- Blue Wisp Big Band, 20th Anniversary (Sea Breeze 2114)
- Bob Mintzer Big Band, Homage to Count Basie (DMP 529)
- Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra, Impulsive! (Stunt 00102)
- Mike Longo Jazz Ensemble, Aftermath (Consolidated Artists 956)
- ClaytonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHamilton Jazz Orchestra, Shout Me Out! (Fable 54395)
- SWR Big Band, 50 Jahre (CK Records 00601)
- Buddy Rich Big Band, Wham! (Label M 495717)
- Tom Talbert Jazz Orchestra, To a Lady (Essential Music Group; no number)
- Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, Bach 2000 (Milestone 9312)
- Toledo Jazz Orchestra, GroovinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ (TJO 2001)
- KlÃÂÃÂÃÂ
ÃÂvers Big Band, Silver Street (Music Mecca 2065)
The New England Jazz Hall of Fame
ThereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs not much more to report this month except for the induction of the first ten musicians into the New England Jazz Alliance (NEJA) Hall of Fame. They are saxophonists Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney and Paul Gonsalves, each of whom starred with the Duke Ellington Orchestra; drummers Alan Dawson and Tony Williams; pianist Jaki Byard, cornetist / trumpeter Bobby Hackett, Boston pianist / bandleader Sabby Lewis, baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff and alto / tenor saxophonist Sonny Stitt. The induction ceremony was held December 17 at BostonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Tremont Theatre, where the NEJA will open a Jazz Hall of Fame exhibit next April.
ThatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs it for now. Until next time, when we hope to have a full report on the IAJE Conference in Long Beach, CA, keep swinginÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ!
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