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Rich Willey: Puttin' On the Ritz
"Puttin' On the Ritz" offers a dozen superb, predominantly GAS selections of various lighter grooves which feature the Asheville, North Carolina trumpeter on a multitude of instruments, including trumpet, bass trumpet, trombone and, you guessed correctly, the aforementioned EVI. In addition to Willey's horn playing, the addition of live, not synth, strings adds a Henry Mancini-like touch where incorporated.
"Poor Butterfly" is given a fine bossa nova treatment and is a winning opener. Usually covered as a ballad, "If I Should Lose You" gets a straight-ahead treatment offering fine trumpet and Rich Mutzabough piano solos. The title tune is taken as best-known and is an involving, if commercial, track.
Willey is a brass phenom whose fine jazz playing rings whether on trumpet, the lesser-encountered bass trumpet or EVI. His solos are intricate, accessible and smack full of smears, flips and turns, all delivered with a fencer's flair and ease of execution. Carey Deadman's string writing is also superb, lending elegance where applied.
"Song for Janet" (Mrs. Willey) is an elegant bossa and "Melancholy Baby" is a lilting and easy-swinging take. Willey delivers Frank Zappa's "Uncle Remus," here a slower blues and he takes the mic to sing "Hard-Hearted Hannah" in a style that mimes that of his former boss, Maynard Ferguson's occasional vocals. Three selections, all Willey originals, are of a religious nature, two takes of "Holy Trinity" (with guest EVI artist, John Swana soloing) and "But for the Grace of God which features Zeke Listenbee's voice.
"Puttin' on the Ritz" is a highly entertaining release that combines terrific talents, superb arrangements, and a robust jazz/commercial feel. There are no cracker crumbs here.
Track Listing
Poor Butterfly; If I Should Lose You; I'll Be Seeing You; Puttin' On the Ritz; Melancholy Baby; Holy Trinity (Radio Edit); Song for Janet; Uncle Remus; Sweet Lorraine; Hard Hearted Hannah; But for the Grace of God; Holy Trinity (Full Version).
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Rich Willey: bass trumpet, EVI, vocal (10); John Swana: EVI (6, 12); Paul Mutabaugh: piano Hammond B3 organ (8), Rhodes piano (11) synth bass (4); Carey Deadman: high trumpet notes (6, 12); Zeke Listenbee: vocal (11); Jime Massoth: tenor saxophone (7); Strings: conducted by Shawn Stengel: Michèle Lekas (concertmaster), Bernardo Arias, Sam Battista, Whun Kim, Mark Lekas, Kerena Moeller, Emily Nash, Kjersti Nostbakken, Eric Pidluski, Christopher Pollen, Irene Radetsky, Ryan Rump, Bruno Silva, Rebecca Swan, Clara Takarabe, Emi Tanabe, Azusa Tashiro, Kristen Wiersum, Bonnie Yeager; Neal Wehman: drums (4.8); Vance Okraszewski: Latin percussion: (1,2,3,5,9,10); Holy Trinity: David Mann, soprano sax solo; Tom Evans, soprano sax and flute; ◊ John Swana, EVI solo (electronic valve instrument): Rich Willey, trumpet/bass trumpet/EVI/tuba; Carey Deadman, high trumpet notes at end; Wally Minko, Rhodes piano: Andrew Synowiec, guitar ◊ Matt Bissonette, bass ◊ Greg Bissonette, drums; But for the Grace of God: : Zeke Listenbee, vocal ◊ Rich Willey, bass trumpet/tuba ◊ Saxophones: Dan Higgins, Brian Scanlon, Bob Sheppard, Sal Lozano, Jay Mason ◊ Trumpets: Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Rob Schaer, Tony Bonsera ◊ Trombones: Alex Iles, Andy Martin, Steve Holtman, Bill Reichenbach ◊ Rhythm Section: Wally Minko (keyboards), Andrew Synowiec (guitars), Edwin Livingston (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Joey De Leon (percussion) ◊ Violin: Songa Lee (concert master), Josefina Vergara, Benjamin Jacobson, Natalie Leggett, Marisa Kuney, Jennifer Choi Fischer, Mark Robertson, Maya Magub, Joel Pargman, Sara Parkins, Eun Mee Ahn, Nina Evtuhov, Daphne Chen, Amy Hershberger, Tamara Hatwan, Michele Richards, Carrie Kennedy, Armen Anassian, Ji Young An, Lorand Lokuszta, Neel Hammond, Lucia Micarelli ◊ Viola: Andrew Duckles, Eric Rynearson, Alma Fernandez, Karen Elaine, Carolyn Riley, Victor de Almeida ◊ Cello: Jacob Braun, Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Cecilia Tsan, Dennis Karmazyn ◊ Bass: David Stone, Trey Henry ◊ French Horn: Dylan Hart, Danielle Ondarza, Jeremiah Frederick, Sharon Jones.
Album information
Title: Puttin' On the Ritz | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Boptism Music
About Rich Willey
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