Big Band Report

BuJazzO: That's German for Swinging Big Band Jazz

By
JACK BOWERS,
Jack Bowers

Jack Bowers

Senior Contributor since 1997

A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than fifteen years.

Recent articles (1,750 total)

Published: September 4, 2011

The schedule for the Los Angeles Jazz Institute's October event, "Modern Sounds: Celebrating the West Coast Sound," arrived August 15 via e-mail from the LAJI's head man, Ken Poston, and it is a humdinger. No less than twenty-six concerts (four poolside), four films, seven special presentations and a panel discussion with "the masters"—Bill HolmanBill Holman Bill Holman
b.1927
band/orchestra
, Russell GarciaRussell Garcia Russell Garcia
1916 - 2011
composer/conductor
, Gerald WilsonGerald Wilson Gerald Wilson
b.1918
composer/conductor
, Johnny MandelJohnny Mandel Johnny Mandel
b.1925
arranger
—in only four days (October 20-23) at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. But wait! (as the TV commercials say), there's more! On Monday, October 24, the LAJI is presenting a day-long celebration of bandleader Stan KentonStan Kenton Stan Kenton
1911 - 1979
piano
's 100th anniversary, featuring an array of Kenton alumni taking part in concerts, panel discussions and a special "meet the alumni" reception. Alumni scheduled to attend include Holman, Bob CurnowBob Curnow Bob Curnow
, Howard RumseyHoward Rumsey Howard Rumsey
b.1917
, Peter ErskinePeter Erskine Peter Erskine
b.1954
drums
, Carl SaundersCarl Saunders Carl Saunders
b.1942
trumpet
, Steve HuffsteterSteve Huffsteter Steve Huffsteter
, Joel KayeJoel Kaye Joel Kaye
, Bill TrujilloBill Trujillo Bill Trujillo
b.1930
, Al YankeeAl Yankee Al Yankee
, Dave Stone, Larry McGuire and John Mitchell, with more to be announced. This is an extra event not included in registration for "Modern Sounds."

"Modern Sounds" will cover many aspects of "West Coast Jazz" from the 1950s onward with concerts devoted to the music of Shelly ManneShelly Manne Shelly Manne
1920 - 1984
drums
, Pete RugoloPete Rugolo Pete Rugolo
b.1915
composer/conductor
, Shorty RogersShorty Rogers Shorty Rogers
1924 - 1994
trumpet
, Gerry MulliganGerry Mulligan Gerry Mulligan
1927 - 1996
sax, baritone
, Bud ShankBud Shank Bud Shank
1926 - 2009
saxophone
, Bob CooperBob Cooper Bob Cooper
1925 - 1993
saxophone
, Johnny RichardsJohnny Richards Johnny Richards
b.1911
, Jack MontroseJack Montrose Jack Montrose
b.1928
, Russ FreemanRuss Freeman Russ Freeman
1926 - 2002
piano
, Don FagerquistDon Fagerquist Don Fagerquist
b.1927
, Jimmy GiuffreJimmy Giuffre Jimmy Giuffre
1921 - 2008
clarinet
, John GraasJohn Graas John Graas
b.1924
, Marty PaichMarty Paich Marty Paich
1925 - 1995
composer/conductor
and Spud MurphySpud Murphy Spud Murphy
b.1908
. Besides Holman, Garcia, Wilson and Mandel, bands and other groups will be led by Dave PellDave Pell Dave Pell
b.1935
saxophone
, Peter ErskinePeter Erskine Peter Erskine
b.1954
drums
, Terry GibbsTerry Gibbs Terry Gibbs
b.1924
vibraphone
(the Woody HermanWoody Herman Woody Herman
1913 - 1987
band/orchestra
Alumni Band), Fred Laurence SeldenFred Laurence Selden Fred Laurence Selden
b.1945
, Joel KayeJoel Kaye Joel Kaye
, Don Shelton, Bobby ShewBobby Shew Bobby Shew
b.1941
trumpet
, Nathan Tanouye, Carl SaundersCarl Saunders Carl Saunders
b.1942
trumpet
, Duane TatroDuane Tatro Duane Tatro
and Lanny MorganLanny Morgan Lanny Morgan
b.1934
. For information, phone 562-200-5477 or go online to www.lajazzinstitute.org

In Case You Missed It . . .

Jazz concerts are still being held each Monday evening at the New York City Baha'i Center's Dizzy GillespieDizzy Gillespie Dizzy Gillespie
1917 - 1993
trumpet
Auditorium, 53 E. 11th St. (between University Place and Broadway). Many of these events involve big bands. If you're in the area, check these out: September 13, the Russ KassoffRuss Kassoff Russ Kassoff
b.1953
piano
Big Band with vocalist Catherine DupuisCatherine Dupuis Catherine Dupuis

vocal
; September 20, the Gary Morton Latin Big Band: PanAmericana!; October 11, Daoud David Williams and the Spirit of Life Ensemble; October 18, Dizzy Gillespie 94th Birthday Celebration with Mike LongoMike Longo Mike Longo
b.1939
piano
's NY State of the Art Big Band and vocalist Hilary Gardner; October 25, The Aggregation directed by trumpeter Cecil BridgewaterCecil Bridgewater Cecil Bridgewater
b.1942
trumpet
; November 1, Charlie PersipCharlie Persip Charlie Persip
b.1929
drums
's "Supersound" Big Band; December 13, The Ben and Frank PerowskyBen and Frank Perowsky Ben and Frank Perowsky
Big Band. For information, phone 212-674-8998.

Another Farewell

Scott PetersenScott Petersen Scott Petersen

saxophone
, a musician we'd become accustomed to seeing and hearing at LAJI events in Los Angeles, died August 15 of complications from a lung infection. He was fifty-one years old. Petersen, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, who was a first-call saxophonist in Detroit for many years before moving to the San Francisco Bay area in 1995, was born with cystic fibrosis, a congenital lung disease that is usually fatal in childhood. Petersen defied the odds by not only living past fifty but becoming a world-class saxophonist in spite of his illness, then learning to play again after undergoing a full lung transplant several years ago. Petersen was a fixture with trumpeter Mike VaxMike Vax Mike Vax

trumpet
's Stan Kenton Alumni Band and was looking forward to the band's upcoming tour. Goodbye, Scott; thanks for the memories.

And that's it for now. Until next time, keep swingin' . . . !


New and Noteworthy

1. The H2 Big Band, You're It! (Jazzed Media)
2. Captain Black Big Band, Untitled (Posi-Tone)
3. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, That's How We Roll (Telarc)
4. Dave Stahl Band, From A to Z (Abee Cake)
5. Fred Hess Big Band, Into the Open (Alison)
6. Tempest Little Big Band, 'Round Midnight (Tempest Jazz)
7. Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Fleet Street (Max Frank Music)
8. Peter Tenner Jazz Orchester, 10117 Berlin (Mons)
9. Clarke / Boland Big Band, Complete Live Recordings at Ronnie Scott's (Rearward)
10. Brooks Tegler Big Band, That's It! (Maxngruber Records)
11. UNT Two O'Clock Lab Band, Under the Radar (UNT Jazz)
12. Magnetic Big Band, Repetition (Black & Blue)
13. Cal State-Long Beach Concert Jazz Orchestra, Great Northern Express (No Label)
14. Jamie Begian Big Band, Big Fat Grin (Innova)
15. University of Missouri Concert Jazz Band, Vertigo (AW Jazz)

comments powered by Disqus

Weekly Giveaways

Will Calhoun

Will Calhoun
About | Enter

Verve Jazz Ensemble

Verve Jazz Ensemble
About | Enter

Sinan Bakir

Sinan Bakir
About | Enter

Joshua Redman

Joshua Redman
About | Enter