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Whit Williams Now's the Time Big Band: Featuring Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath
A rundown of solos by track would have been nice, but since the featured tenor sax on Heath's "Losing Game" doesn't sound like the composer or Thomas, we can assume it's Williams. The tunea kissing cousin of Harry Warren's "This Is Always"is a model of the classic big band ballad frame/showcase for a tenor saxophonist. Unless Young also plays baritone sax, the solo on Heath's Latin swinger, "This Is What It Is," credited to him in the notes, is probably also by Williams, since it shares the robust vibrato of the "Losing Game" tenor lead. Matching the quality of the guests' solos are those from the band, especially the trumpets, both the uncredited one on Williams' "I Remember Tangle" and Don Junker's on Hampton's cubistic chart of Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie."
Three of Heath's four arrangements (and one of Hampton's) have AfroLatin accents, including time shifts in and out of 4/4 swing on "Without You, No Me," all executed admirably by the big band. It sounds equally accomplished negotiating Hampton's complexities, which include bouncing ball theme tosses across sections, rhythm dropouts and extended preludes and interludes. As the Michelin Guide might say of a restaurant, worthy of a side trip to hear.
Track Listing
This Is What It Is; Una Mas; I Remember Tangle; Losing Game; Without You, No Me; The Radiator Man Is Well; A Day in Copenhagen; Diana; Get Home Before Dark; Little Rootie Tootie.
Personnel
Personnel: Whit Williams: leader, composer, arranger, reeds; Don Junker, Joe Palonzo, Michael Thomas, Eli Asher: trumpet; Jimmy Battallata, Jimmy Kearns, Russel Kirk: alto sax; Howard Burns: tenor sax; Gary Thomas: tenor sax, flute; Steve Swann: baritone sax; Jay Gibble, Richard Ore, Bill Holmes: trombone; Bernie Robier: bass trombone; Charlie Etsel: piano; Earnest Barnes: bass; Harold Summey: drums. Special guests: Slide Hampton: trombone; Jimmy Heath: tenor sax; Charlie Young: alto sax.
Album information
Title: Featuring Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Summit Records
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