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Russell Scarbrough: Fun Times
ByOnce the data was received, Scarbrough loaded it into a digital audio workstation (DAW), over which he had complete control, and let the fun begin. While not everyone performs on every number, and group sizes vary from ten to fifteen, when listening one would swear that the players were together in a single studio. That's due for the most part to the exemplary musicianship, and to Scarbrough's ability to blend the ingredients, as his chartshe wrote everythingare by no means an easy read.
Speaking of those charts, Scarbrough has his own unique approachmore Gordon Goodwin or Toshiko Akiyoshi than Gil Evans or Bob Brookmeyerbut not sounding a whole lot like any of them. He does wrest splendid mileage from his sequestered ensembles, and while it does seem that everyone is having fun, it's rather hard to judge without seeing their faces. Besides writing and arranging, Scarbrough represents the "trombone section" on every track but solos only on the prismatic "Needledrop" and playful "Startups" (no need to say more with heavyweights like Jim Pugh and Brendan Lanighan in the wings). Scarbrough also delivers a tongue-in-cheek "lecture"written by The Daily Show's Jason Gilberton "Startups." All part of the Fun Times.
For beauty, Scarbrough looks to "Something in the Moon," on which Pugh and vibraphonist James Westfall are the featured soloists. He doesn't shy away from funk or rock, sprinkling it liberally throughout to spruce up such well-drawn numbers as "Max-Q," "The Culprit," "Something's Burning" and "Splode." The others"Spiral Song," "Abandoned in Place," "Song of the Northern Road"cleave to a more straight-ahead course.
There are one or more soloists on every number, and none is less than proficient. Tenor Jared Sims is out front on the opener, "Max-Q," and fares quite well, especially considering that any tenor saxophonist surnamed Sims (but not nicknamed Zoot) has tremendously large shoes to fill. Aside from Sims, Pugh, Westfall, Lanighan and Scarbrough, other inventive soloists include trumpeters Clay Jenkins, Bob Miller, Jeff Ostroski and Charlie Carr; altos Matt Vashlishan, Bill Straub and Bill Tiberio; tenor JC Kuhl, guitarist Bob Sneider and drummer Chris Teal.
Fun Times must have been fun to record as well as fun to play. Scarbrough clearly has an original voice, and uses it wisely on every number. The ensembleseven though uncoupledare exemplary, the album itself a pleasure to appraise and admire.
Track Listing
Max-Q; Spiral Song; The Culprit; Abandoned In Place; Something's Burning; Song Of The Northern Road; Needledrop; Startups; Something In The Moon; Splode.
Personnel
Russell Scarbrough
composer / conductorLuis Bonilla
tromboneCharlie Carr
trumpetShoghi Hayes
trumpetClay Jenkins
trumpetBob Miller
trumpetJeff Ostroski
trumpetDerek Reiss
trumpetHerb Smith
saxophone, altoJack Smith
trumpetDan Wright
trumpetDave Burlone
saxophoneSteve Davidson
saxophoneKirsten Edkins
saxophone, tenorEthan Helm
saxophoneDean Keller
clarinet, bassBrandon Kelley
saxophoneAdditional Instrumentation
J.C. Kuhl, Doug O’Connor, Jared Sims, Josh Sinton, Bill Straub, Bill Tiberio, Matt Vashlishan: saxophone; Kathryn Scarbrough: flute; Paul Abel, Chris Beaudry, Brendan Lanighan, Jim Pugh: trombone; Kristen Shiner McGuire, James Westfall: vibraphone, percussion; Ariel Kasler, Bob Sneider: guitar; Andy Calabrese, Marcelo Magalhaes, John Nyerges, Chris Ziemba: piano, keyboards; Dave Kluge, Dan Loomis, Scott Worthington: bass; Ralph Humphrey, Devin Kelly, Jared Schonig, Chris Teal, Rich Thompson: drums.
Album information
Title: Fun Times | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced
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About Russell Scarbrough
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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