Jim Waller Big Band: Bucket List
As if to show that nothing is beyond the pale, Waller has even updated George Gershwin's classic "Rhapsody in Blue," which helped usher in the era of modern jazz when introduced by Paul Whiteman's orchestra in 1924 (with the composer at the piano), using a six-member string section to deepen the mood. Waller solos on tenor sax on nine numbers, organ on the well-named "Funksuite 109," soprano sax on "This Is It." On tenor, his style leans more toward Georgie Auld or Charlie Ventura than, say, Jimmy Heath or George Coleman. There are five vocals by Jacqueline Sotelo who skims through them without ruffling any feathers or turning any heads. Of the five, two were associated with Peggy Lee ("I Love Being Here with You," "Why Don't You Do Right") and one with Ray Charles ("Georgia on My Mind").
While the charts for Sotelo are admirable, it is on the nine instrumentals that the band really shines, starting with Waller's rhythmically impressive "Samba for Suzell" (written for his late wife), and continuing with the emphatic "New Blue Funk" (Bill King, flute) and shuffling "Blues for Los Blues," a jazz-rock group with whom Waller played in the late '60s and early '70s (Jason Galbraith, tenor; Joey Colarusso, baritone). Waller also wrote (and arranged) the well-grooved "Waltz for Laura," on which he solos trimly with trumpeter Lee "Sparky" Thomason. Bill Doggett's soul-drenched "Honky Tonk" and Billie Holiday's sermonesque "God Bless the Child" (vocal by Sotelo) precede the nimble finale, "This Is It" (radiant solos by trumpeter Curtis Calderon and Waller on soprano).
First-class band, superb arrangements. High marks for both, tempered to a degree by the garden-variety vocals but nonetheless recommended for its many pleasurable moments.
Track Listing
Samba for Suzell; I Love Being Here with You; New Blue Funk; Blues for Los Blues; Georgia on My Mind; Waltz for Laura; Rhapsody in Blue; Why Don’t You Do Right; Funk Suite 109; A Ballad for Bob; Goody Goody; Honky Tonk; God Bless the Child; This Is It.
Personnel
Jim Waller: composer/conductor; Karlos Elizondo: trumpet; Adrian Ruiz: trumpet; Alex Gomez: trumpet; Curtis Calderon: trumpet; Lee Thomason: trumpet; Bill King: saxophone, alto; Brian Christensen: saxophone, alto; Adam Carrillo: saxophone, tenor; Jason Galbraith: saxophone, tenor; Matthew Maldonado: saxophone, tenor; Joey Colarusso: saxophone, baritone; Libby Barnette: french horn; Jaime Parker: trombone; Gilbert Garza: trombone; Mark Hill: trombone; Matthew Erickson: trombone; Martin McCain: trombone; Jason Valdez : guitar, electric; Chris Villanueva: piano.
Andy Langham: piano (10); Georgie Padilla: congas, percussion (1, 13); Joe Caploe: timpani (7); Will Kennedy: drums; Jacqueline Sotelo: vocals. String section (Serenade in Blue)—Anastasia Parker: concertmaster; Dr. Stephanie Westney: violin; Eric Siu: violin; Yang Guo: viola; David Wang: viola; Ken Freudigman: cello.
Album information
Title: Bucket List | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced