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Big Band Report
Jazz Appreciation Month
Jack Bowers
A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than fifteen years.Also in April . . .
The wold-class Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra from Indianapolis ends its third concert season at the Indiana Historical Society on April 25 with “Tribute to a Jazz Master: The Music of David Baker.” Dr. Baker, who has more than sixty-five recordings, seventy books and four hundred articles to his credit, is Distinguished Professor of Music and chairman of the Jazz Studies department at the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. The orchestra will present two performances of his music, a matinee at two o’clock and an evening concert at seven with the BWJO High School All-Star Jazz Ensemble opening both performances. For more information about the concerts, contact Steve Trusedell, 317-856-1078 (e-mail strusedell@wmconnect.com). To order tickets, phone the BWJO’s Ticket Line, 317-464-5388. The BWJO, now in its tenth year, performs each Tuesday evening at the Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Avenue in Indianapolis. The ensemble’s two CDs, “Happenstance” and “Heart and Soul,” are widely available including online at www.cdbaby.com
One Last Word . . .
Here’s a big-band album I’m unlikely to buy — Goodbye Swingtime by the Matthew Herbert Big Band. According to Jon Andrews’ review in Down Beat magazine, the album represents Herbert’s “attempt to reconcile house rhythms and sampling technology with his love of big band Jazz. In the first stage, a seventeen-piece British ensemble performed Herbert’s compositions. Through sampling of the band [whatever that means], looping and manipulation [?], Herbert created an uneasy alliance between Jazz musicians and machines [I'll bet he did]. . . .Electronics permeate the music, sometimes in the form of atmospheric samples, or Herbert’s signature ‘glitches.’” Thanks but no thanks. I’ll stick with Stan, Woody, Buddy, the Count and others whose music is devoid of “glitches” and other extraneous baggage. Alas, I may be in the minority . . .
That’s it for now. Until next time, keep swingin’!
New and Noteworthy
1. Stan Kenton Orchestra, Horns of Plenty (Tantara)
2. Peter Brem Big Band, Natural Connections (MusicMecca)
3. Phil Norman Tentet, Wide Range (Concord)
4. Doncaster Jazz Orchestra, Discover the Spirit (DJO)
5. University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, Romances (Summit)
6. DVC Night Jazz Band, Featuring Toshiko Akiyoshi (DVC)
7. Dave Stevens Big Band, Sound Storm (Digital Visionary)
8. Mats Holmquist Big Band, A Tribute to Chick Corea (Caprice)
9. Jill Townsend Big Band, Tales from the Sea (Pagetown)
10. Jim Widner Big Band, Flying High . . . (Chase Music Group)
11. Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra, 27 East (Lasheda Records)
12. Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Playin’ the Book! (Columbus Music Hall)
