Chris Walden Big Band: Winter Games

In a followup to his 2005 Grammy-nominated Home of My Heart (for best large ensemble album), Walden has taken his Los Angeles-based big band into new territory by recording the just-released Winter Games. The album contains only two tracks of the same theme music; track two is an edited version shortened by 41 seconds for radio. The first track is the complete version of the theme "Winter Games" that is bold and brassy with a splendid solo from Brandon Fields on tenor.

To make this seven-minute disc, Walden brought together some very accomplished musicians, all veterans of the West Coast big band scene. Included are such top-notch players as reedist s Kim Richmond and Tom Peterson, trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Ron King, and trombonists Bob McChesney and Andy Martin. These are but only a few of the notables who comprise his LA big band. While not offering an array of musical selections that one would expect from a large ensemble recording, Walden keeps the embers burning just enough to feel the warmth that melts the snow on this limited edition recording.

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