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Doug MacDonald: Big Band Extravaganza
By"Toluca Lake Jazz" is pretty much "Cherokee," with Paul Kreibich and Chuck Berghofer in the cockpit, where they keep affairs moving throughout. And some lead alto playing here and elsewhere, for sure! If you are an aficionado of twelve-bar blues, "Luces Azules" is going to do the trick, with an especially tasty trumpet solo by the much-lamented Carl Saunders. And how nice to hear an old school stop-time trombone solo by Glen Berger. Berghofer plays a nice cruising solo. A listener thinks Doug McDonald, aside from just playing awfully well throughout, must have spent some time absorbing Bill Holman, Bill Potts, and the other who's who of Buddy Rich's 1960s' arrangers, because the phrasing and voicing of the reed section are surely evocative of them. "Desert Jazz" spotlights not only McDonald's playing, but a fine trumpet section with Dan Fornero and Mike Campagna on split lead. Aaron Janik on trumpet plays a nice Don Fagerquist-inflected solo.
If a listener spends time on fine section work, arrangements, lead players, and, a bit grudgingly, soloists, these are signs of a musician's big band. The star system is less in evidence than the ensemble work, but then, get a nice blend of both, as on "De Ha." A swinging standard? "But Not For Me" square on top of the beat.
If shouting big bands is the itch you need to scratch, Big Band Extravaganza should do nicely. As Glenn Miller famously said, something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. All played with verve, taste, and superb musicianship.
Track Listing
Toluca Lake Jazz; Rashomon; Luces Azules; Aventura en Triadas; Desert Jazz; Luz de Amour; De Ha; But Not for Me; Minor Mess; Ya Know Bill.
Personnel
Doug MacDonald
guitarMike Campagna
trumpetDan Fornero
trumpetAaron Janik
trumpetCarl Saunders
trumpetKim Richmond
saxophoneAlex Budman
fluteRickey Woodard
saxophoneGlen Berger
woodwindsTim McKay
saxophone, baritoneIra Nepus
tromboneLes Benedict
tromboneIvan Malespin
tromboneRich Bullock
trombone, bassBill Cunliffe
pianoAndy Langham
pianoChuck Berghofer
bass, acousticPaul Kreibich
drumsAlbum information
Title: Big Band Extravaganza | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Doug MacDonald
Album Review
Richard J Salvucci
Big Band Extravaganza
Self Produced
Paul Kreibich
Chuck Berghofer
Carl Saunders
Glen Berger{{. Berghofer plays a nice cruising solo. A listener thinks Doug McDonald, aside from just playing awfully well throughout, must have spent some time absorbing {{Bill Holman
Bill Potts
Buddy Rich
Dan Fornero
Mike Campagna
}Aaron Janik
Don Fagerquist
Glenn Miller