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Greg Hopkins: Okavongo
Together, these guys have played the road with Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Art Blakely, Stan Getz and whoever else you wanna name. Greg Hopkins, band leader guy, wrote all but 3 of these instrumentals, and if you don't see his name listed in the musician sections, don't fret. The man's plenty busy pulling so much blow together. If he arranged it all as well: the cat's hip and much experienced in the seldom-practiced art of big club sound.
The big club sound has rather died out as a mainstay, with trios and short combo units filling small stages and not milking the payrolls that orchestras used to. But like a large Broadway cast, it's grand to hear a larger than life sound again. 'Sphere of T.M. Part 2' should renew your love of melting horns, barking saxophones and a rhythm you can jump against.
As much brass as there is, I wouldn't call it an intensely brassy sound. No strings, true, but there is a vast feeling of orchestral Harlem jig to the disc. From the way jazz evolved in the 30s, then had its resurgence in the 50s, there is that togetherness sparked on by the baton holder ever present here.
If you're into the more intimate recordings, this probably isn't your potato. But it's hot.
Track Listing
Stretchin'#; Okavongo*; Contra Part 1*; Contra Part 2*; Nightfall; Crackdown - Dialogue; Crackdown; Infant Eyes; Sphere of T. M. Part 1; Sphere of T. M. Part 2; Thoughts*; Steller - Prologue*; Steller by Satellite*
Personnel
Greg Hopkins
trumpetGreg Hopkins, Scott DeOgburn, Don Gorder, Jeff Stout, Paul Fontaine, John Daly, George Zance - Trumpet/Flugelhorn; Larry Monroe, Bruce Nifong, Mark Pinto - Alto Sax/Flute; Bill Pierce - Tenor & Soprano Sax; Greg Badolato, John Griener - Tenor & Soprano Sax/ Flute; Tom Ferrante, Mark Phaneuf - Baritone Sax/Bass Clarinet; Tony Lada, Rick Stepton, Jeff Galindo, Jerry Ash, Tim Kelly - Trombone; Goodrick. Mick - Guitar; Tim Ray, Chris Neville, James Williams# - Piano; Paul Del Nero, Bruce Gertz - Bass; Joe Hunt - Drums
Album information
Title: Okavongo | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Summit Records
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