Posts Tagged Big Band
Archive
June 14, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 110
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Sing Sing Sing [Single] (1975) Something like this pops out at you and you grab it. A fiver. Done deal. A mono version of one of the most famous Benny Goodman staples – well three, really but the side A lead single is the one right. And I guess I […]Archive
April 28, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 127
Stan Kenton, Adventures in Jazz (1961) Stan Kenton – arranger, composer, bandleader, performer – great arranger, great bandleader and a terrific player. Lots of examples, lots of great – great – work – but I only have this on vinyl (and I had some compilations on CD). I have no idea where I got this […]Archive
February 18, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Buddy Rich Big Band: Just In Time – The Final Recording
The Buddy Rich Big Band Just In Time – The Final Recording Gearbox He was Baby Traps; almost a circus freak, playing drums at 18 months old, a star by the age of four and from vaudeville and circus tricks to the golden era of the big band and to backing Sinatra – or Sinatra […]Archive
December 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Stubs: # 242 – Michael Houstoun & The Rodger Fox Big Band, Wellington, 2015
An intriguing musical collaboration – and one that has worked so they’ve repeated it – and when I say repeated it, it’s always a little different. But the classically trained pianist and the big-band leader and trombonist really do find some strange alchemy – on record and in performance. I’ve seen them a few times […]Archive
November 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Harry Connick Jr: True Love – A Celebration of Cole Porter
Harry Connick Jr. True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter Verve Harry Connick Jr. is a musical master; wizard. Beautiful singer, great pianist, dab-hand at the arranging and such an ear and feel and flow to it all. He has made it look and sound easy – but that’s what happens when you’re a child […]Archive
September 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 252
Sid Phillips & His Band, Squeakin’ Shoes/Basin Street Blues [78] (1954) I bought a few 78s just to have – for the look and feel of them. I bought a gramophone a few years later, one of those replica-ones; it worked. Still works. I’ve just given it to my folks to store/display. I’ve run out […]Archive
September 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Vince Mendoza & Temple University Studio Orchestra: Constant Renaissance
Vince Mendoza & Temple University Studio Orchestra Constant Renaissance BCM&D Records Award-winning multi-discipline arranger/producer/composer Vince Mendoza was here commissioned to create a new work for the Temple University Studio Orchestra as part of a week-long residency. The man that has worked with almost every name in pop and jazz created this three-track, EP-length album-suite for […]Archive
May 29, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 170: Gregg Bissonette
Welcome to episode 170 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library. Here’s a 35-minute conversation I nabbed with […]Archive
May 28, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Rodger Fox Presents…Jazz Gala – Gregg Bissonette, Louis Dowdeswell, Glenn Walters (May 26, Wgtn)
Rodger Fox Presents…Jazz Gala Memorial Theatre, Victoria University of Wellington Sunday, May 26 For this year’s Jazz Gala Rodger Fox and his big band welcomed guests from U.S.A and England with British trumpeter Louis Dowdeswell, and Americans Glenn Walters (a journeyman soul/jazz vocalist) and superstar session drumming great Gregg Bissonette (famed for his work with Maynard Ferguson, David Lee Roth […]Archive
January 27, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Michel Legrand
I was sad to hear of the passing of Michel Legrand. He lived a long life I guess – he was a month shy of his 87th birthday I believe. I thought, straight away on hearing the news of his amazing recording, Legrand Jazz. We bought that 1959 album on a whim – I say we – the family used to […]Archive
October 19, 2018 by Simon Sweetman