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The Depaul University Jazz Ensemble: Salutes Woody Herman
ByWhile there's nothing here that hasn't been heard before, perhaps even hundreds of times, the contemporary arrangements, written to accommodate the ensemble's instrumentation, lend every number a fresh slant that is sure to please, as are the animated solos by various members of director Bob Lark's intrepid company of undergrads. In other words, this is no mere facsimile of the Herman Herds but an earnest tribute that builds on the exemplary foundation designed by the maestro and takes it in new and consistently engaging directions. This is nowhere more apparent than in the adroitly renovated charts by Thomas Matta ("Sidewalks of Cuba," "Blue Flame"), Bradley Williams ("Early Autumn"), Joe Clark ("Laura"), Dan Jonas ("Lemon Drop"), Kirk Garrison ("Sonny Speaks") and Carl Kennedy ("Apple Honey," "Bijou"). Three members of the ensemble weigh in with splendid arrangements of their own: pianist Pete Benson (Herman's mega-hit, "Woodchopper's Ball"), guitarist Brandon Hunt (Neal Hefti's "The Good Earth") and bassist Matt Ulery (Jimmy Giuffre's classic "Four Brothers").
A second guest, Mark Colby, best known as a tenor saxophonist, appends tasteful clarinet passages on "Blue Flame" and "Sonny Speaks," while fellow DePaul faculty member Matta solos on bass trombone on "Sidewalks of Cuba" and director Lark speaks out on flugelhorn ("Laura") and trumpet ("Blue Flame"). Alto saxophonist Corbin Andrick is featured on "Apple Honey," trombonist Bryan Tipps on "Bijou." Other soloists of note are Benson, Ulery, Hunt, trumpeters David Kaiser and Marques Carroll, trombonists Alex Wasily and Brett Balika, alto Andrew Janak, tenors Mike Plankey and Sean Packard, baritone Mark Hiebert and, last but not least, the indefatigable Hamilton, an outstanding choice for the drum chair.
Salutes Woody Herman succeeds admirably on two levels: as a showcase for the first-class DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, and as a suitable reminder of Herman's unequivocal brilliance as a bandleader.
Track Listing
Woodchopper’s Ball; Sidewalks of Cuba; Early Autumn; Laura; Lemon Drop; Blue Flame; Sonny Speaks; Apple Honey; Four Brothers; Bijou; The Good Earth.
Personnel
Bob Lark: director, flugelhorn solo (4), trumpet solo (6); Marques Carroll: trumpet, flugelhorn; Tom Klein: trumpet, flugelhorn; Bobby Lark: trumpet, flugelhorn; David Kaiser: trumpet, flugelhorn; Corbin Andrick: alto sax, flute; Andrew Janak: alto sax; Sean Packard: tenor sax; Michael Plankey: tenor sax; Mark Hiebert: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Bryan Tipps: trombone; Brett Balika: trombone; Alex Wasily: trombone; Tony Portela: bass trombone; Pete Benson: piano; Brandon Hunt: guitar; Matt Ulery: bass. Special guest artists — Jeff Hamilton: drums; Mark Colby: clarinet (5-7); Thomas Matta: bass trombone (2).
Album information
Title: Salutes Woody Herman | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Jazzed Media
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