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Tim Gill & the Tim Gill All-Stars: Small Batch Bourbon
ByBacked up by his working nine-piece light ensemble plus some additional help, the music kicks off on the traditional Sinatra staple "A Foggy Day" with Gill on vocals and the band playing powerful and brassy, a wonderful rendition that the Chairman himself would be proud of. The classic "Unchain My Heart," is another swinging piece featuring Edmund Velasco on tenor and trombonist Mike Johnson doing the honors on solos. Vocalist Adryon DeLeon appears on three tracks beginning on the familiar "L-O-V-E," then on the Gershwin brothers classic "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and the sizzling "Comes Love."
Gill's original title track finds the leader on a lively vocal performance and highlights the solo chops of tenor saxophonist Kirsten Edkins and pianist Adam Bravoall laying down one hot piece performed with gusto and a lot a fun. Bobby Hebb's traditional "Sunny" is clearly one of the highlights of the disc while Johnny Burke's "Pennies From Heaven" showcases the fun interchange between band and leader and shedding some limelight on Gill's trumpet sound along with the tenor sounds of Morgan Jones.
The leader confesses to the band and all that he just can't dance and proceeds to sing the lyrics of the immortal "I Won't Dance" after a shocking response from the band on his uncanny admission of course, all done in jest with drummer Jimmy Ford and baritone saxophonist Phil Moore on brief solos. Arguably the best instrumental solo of the album goes to alto saxophonist Jeremy Lappitt who tees off quite nicely on a verse from "You & the Night & the Music." Other notable pieces include "Arthouse Façade," "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" and the finale "Hey, Good Lookin,'"
Crooner Tim Gill has managed to put together another winning big band album full of swinging material designed to provide an all-around pleasurable big band sound. The hard-driving arrangements combined with the raucous and lively fun-filled manner Gill and band deliver the music, makes Small Batch Bourbon one shoulder-moving musical experience worth repeating often, well done!
Track Listing
A Foggy Day; Unchain My Heart; L-O-V-E; Small Batch Bourbon; Sunny; Let's Call the Whole Thing Off; Pennies From Heaven; I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So; I Won't Dance; Benny's Bugle; You & the Night & the Music; Comes Love; Arthouse Façade; You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby; Hey, Good Lookin'.
Personnel
Tim Gill: vocals, trumpet; Adryon Deleon: vocals (3, 6, 12); Dan Kaneyuki: alto saxophone, flute (1-3, 5-10, 12-14); Kirsten Edkins: tenor saxophone, flute (4, 15); Phil Moore: baritone saxophone; Walter Simonsen: trumpet( 1-3, 5-10, 12-14); Brian Mantz: trimpet; Ben Davitt: trombone (1, 3, 6-9, 12, 14); Adam Bravo: piano, organ; Nick Schaadt: string bass; Jimmy Ford: drums; Jeremy Lappitt: alto saxophone (4, 11, 15); Morgan Jones: tenor saxophone (1, 3, 6-8, 11, 13); Edmund Velasco: tenor saxophone (2, 9, 10, 12, 14); Jon Bradley: trumpet (4, 11, 15); Mike Johnson: (2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15).
Album information
Title: Small Batch Bourbon | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced
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