Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gordon Lee and the GLeeful Big Band: Flying Dream

180

Gordon Lee and the GLeeful Big Band: Flying Dream

By

Sign in to view read count
Gordon Lee and the GLeeful Big Band: Flying Dream
We’re not told much about Gordon Lee except that he’s a Portland, Oregon-based music educator who has performed and recorded with a number of small groups and has been writing big-band charts for eight years. His influences, he writes in the brief liner notes, range from Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Maria Schneider to Gustav Mahler and Igor Stravinsky, and the imprint of one or more of them is visible from time to time in each of his cutting-edge compositions, suitably modified to reinforce Lee’s purpose.

Lee wrote all but one of the ten selections on Flying Dream (the other is Rodgers and Hart’s “Where or When,” which he arranged), and his charts are by no means easy to play. He has cleared that hurdle by mustering a seventeen-piece ensemble comprised of some of the most accomplished musicians in his neighborhood, players who at least make it sound easy. Lee writes with a vision in mind, assigning a “theme” to each of his compositions. Thus, “Vicious Cycle” represents “the need for perseverance to navigate the vicious cycle of existence,” “Tobacco Monkey” lampoons “the blues and the smoky bars where the monkey [smoking habit] is hanging out, chattering away,” and so on. Lee’s treatment of “Where or When” is a highlight, in spite of his avowal that it’s a “free association” arrangement about which some listeners might say, “It doesn’t go like that!” Perhaps not, but it goes quite well, as do the strapping solos by tenor Tim Jensen and trumpeter Farnell Newton.

“Alternative Blues” is another eye-opener, as it sounds unlike most other blues that one encounters. Altoist Gary Harris, trombonist Stan Bock and drummer Carlton Jackson get the point and respond with some tasteful blowing. There are other impressive solos as well, most notably by tenor saxophonist Renato Caranto (“Sentimental Fool,” “Wait for Her,” “Winter Comes,” “Now What?”), Lee at the piano with Harris (“Vicious Cycle”) or Jensen (“Bitter Wind”), baritonist Robert Crowell (“Now What?”), Newton and altoist Tom Bergeron (“Flying Dream”).

An admirable debut by a talented composer/arranger/pianist whose big-band charts are fresh and invigorating.

Track Listing

Vicious Cycle, Flying Dream, Sentimental Fool, Now What?, Tobacco Monkey, Winter Comes, Bitter Wind, Wait for Her, Where or When, Alternative Blues

Personnel

Gordon Lee--composer, conductor, piano; Carlton jackson--drums; Andre St. James--contrabass; Charley Gray--electric bass; Rich Cooper, Randy Mueller Dave Mills, Farnell Newton--trumpets; Stan Bock, Keller Coker, Lars Campbell--trombones; Michael Powers--bass trombone; Gary Harris, Tom Bergeron--alto sax and flute; Renato Caranto--tenor and soprano saxes; Tim Jensen--tenor sax, clarinet, flute; Robert Crowell--baritone sax

Album information

Title: Flying Dream | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: OA2 Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.