This CD captures live performances of the Sarasota Jazz Band and Mike Vax's Big Band in live performances in Sarasota, FL and Oakland, CA, respectively. Pianist and honcho of the Sarasota group, George W. Carroll, sings on about half the tracks. None of the other performers are listed except for Roger DeLillo on trombone. That's unfortunate because perhaps the sole redeeming value of this release is the solo work, like the guitar on "Paris" and bass on "This Bass Was Made for Walkin'".
It's regrettable that this CD is somewhat below the high standard of this group's previous releases. While the play list offers excellent possibilities, with a mix of originals and jazz and classic standards, expectations are never met. The band seems unrehearsed and unsure. This is not to say that there are no listenable tracks, but overall the session is inconsistent. Thad Jones' "To You" just drags. On the positive side, the arrangement for "Old Devil Moon" brings some swinging new life to this warhorse. The section work is right on target and the dynamics varied and strong. In fairness, the engineering for this set is less than sparkling, a disservice to the players. Carroll's singing is nothing to write home about, just a notch above adequate.
Really a disappointing outing given what we were used to hearing from this group via its other releases.
Track Listing
To You; This Bass Was Made for Walkin'; I'll Never Stop Loving You+; Moment to Moment; Old Devil Moon; Being Green+; Birdland; A Time for Love; Dolphin Dance; Goodbye+; Mesmerized+; Destination Love+; Paris+
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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.