The Ian Pearce Big Band

The Ian Pearce Big Band: Prelude to the Blues

by Jack Bowers
March 1, 2001

There are times when the second album by a given big band is disappointing when compared to the first. Happily, this isn’t one of those times. This is the more remarkable when one considers that all of the compositions and arrangements on Prelude to the Blues are Ian Pearce’s, whereas his earlier disc, Retrospection (Trip Records 011), enfolded eight well–known standards and such Jazz classics as “Moanin’,” “Cherokee” and “Intermission Riff.” Not only do Pearce’s laudable compositions sprint stride–for–stride in ...