Aubrey Logan and Her Bigger Than Average Big Band: Aubrey Logan and Her Bigger Than Average Big Band

With this recording, Austin, Texas-based award-winning vocalist, trombonist and composer, Aubrey Logan and her Bigger Than Average Band send up ten genre-crossing tracks. The effort ranges from iconic jazz and pop to original selections.

Things get going with a cover of the Carole King hit, "I Feel the Earth Move." Logan digs into the melody with a bluesy approach before laying into the tune with her trombone. There is a fine piano ride following. The track is a sly production choice and a highlight all around. Things cool off with an original, "Airport Codes," a slower lyrics-heavy tale with a darker minor mode vibe. Logan lithely punctuates the moody lines. Things escalate in tempo with Mike Sailors' fine trumpet statement over ensemble punches. A scatted solo chorus from Logan including a "Flight of the Bumblebee" reference follows. Things scream before returning to the calm. The iconic church hymn "Amazing Grace" has Logan vocal soloing backed by the choral ensemble, before she grabs bone and testifies. The performance reinforces Logan's vocal versatility—something that is present throughout the entire session. The take is respectful and avoids any unnecessary over-development. "Done Pretending" is a cute, light swinger with leader Logan punctuating the lines before Elias Haslanger's tenor and Mike Sailors' solos. It is an engaging track.

Logan has an infectiously pleasing voice with an instrumentalist's acrobatic flair and a terrific sense of swing. She soars when need be and has been influenced by her Seattle-area amiga, Diane Schuur. On the sing-speak tunes such as "Airport Codes" and "Done Pretending," this ear is reminded somewhat of Grammy-nominated vocalist/lyricist Lorraine Feather. Logan's trombone chops are exceptional and her solos well-developed. The Bigger Than Average Band supports and swings throughout. The arrangements throughout frame Logan quite well, without confining her.

"Anything for You," a big hit for Gloria Estefan and the "Miami Sound Machine" in the late 1980s, has Logan covering as originally recorded. She easily gravitates into the pop mode without "jazzing." Guitarist Eli Menezes offers an 80s-appropriate solo before Logan's bone steps in before the fade. Slowing things down, "The Remembering Song" presents in a light rock mode over a classic doo-wop bass line with Logan joined by Benny Benack III in an engaging vocal duo and later on their respective horns—it is another highlight track. Bobby Troup's "Route 66," the ultimate in geography tunes, is a deep-pocketed swinger. Logan belts this one out of the park over a tight cadre of cookers. Scat is the order of the day, as Logan burns in unison with the band. Three iconic pop tunes end things. "Dreams," from "Fleetwood Mac," is a bone-played melody and a tasty guitar solo. Logan counters with her own blow. The engaging arrangement builds into a contrapuntal texture. The Barbra Streisand-linked "The Way We Were" brings in a Fender Rhodes backing as Logan is covering. The tune is so attached to Streisand that any vocalized attempt puts the onus on the artist to lend an individualized nuance. Logan does just that by acrobatically melding melody with lyrics. She gets the point across without being saccharine or disingenuous. Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park" brings the final curtain down. Logan is thoroughly on par here before—surprise!—things go Latin. Eric hargett sends up a fierce baritone sax statement and Logan is on fun-fire on her trombone solo quoting Bizet's "Carmen" and Madonna's "La Isla Bonita."

Aubrey Logan and Her Bigger Than Average Band showcases a very talented artist and her fine band in a much bigger-than-average exceptional way.

Comments