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The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra: Perspectives

By AAJ Staff
July 1, 2000
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Once the staple of American music, big band jazz orchestras gave way to increasingly smaller ensembles throughout much of the fifties. Increasingly big bands found themselves in subordinate roles backing jazz singers, or relegated to playing orchestrated versions of pop songs. Ultimately, the logistics of maintaining such a large musical entity on a sustained basis proved too difficult to manage. In recent years though, there have been a number of attempts to revive the big band and preserve it's American heritage. No small feat, the results have been often rewarding. Nothing quite can compare to the sonority of a 24 piece orchestra. It is a sound to behold.

Just listen Gary Urwin's Debut CD entitled Perspectives. It is a CD that grows on you; not only does the music get better as the disc progresses, it is music that bears repeated listening. All this from Urwin, a trumpeter, composer, arranger, conductor, and full-time attorney from Toledo Ohio. On this set, Urwin orchestrates for a number of compositions such as Freddie Hubbard's Sky Dive and Michel LeGrand's You Must Believe In Spring. Five originals by Urwin also complement the date. Fine music from a big band of sorts from a big man of torts.

Track Listing

I'm Old Fashioned; Stormy Weather; Something The Cat Dragged In; Wish Upon A Star; Chucho; Legacy; Sky Dive; Blues On Ice; You Must Believe In Spring; Somebody Loves Me; Beauty And The Beast; Oncoming Traffic; Vegas d'Oro; I'm Old Fashioned.

Personnel

Gary Urwin

band / ensemble / orchestra

Gary Urwin (leader,arranger,composer); Kim Richmond (soprano, alto sax, flute); Rusty Higgins (soprano, alto sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet); Pete Christlieb (tenor sax, flute); Ray Reed (tenor sax, flute, clarinet); Bob Efford (baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute); Alex Lles (trombone); Andy Martin (trombone); Dave Woodly (trombone); Steve Ferguson (bass trombone); Wayne Bergeron (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Baptist/Bobby Burns (trumpet, flugelhorn); Frank Szabo (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Graham (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet); Ron King (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Chipello/Brian O'Rourke (piano); Frank Browne (guitar); Trey Henry (bass); Ralph Razze (drums); Michito Sanchez (percussion); David Johnson (percussion); Ethmer Roten (flute); David Shamban (cello)

Album information

Title: Perspectives | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Sea Breeze Jazz

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