LINER NOTES:
As one of the head bottle-washers and resident nudge for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, It�s my job to hector the membership about the composition of the bands� various sections. When one of the regulars can�t be the [+]LINER NOTES:
As one of the head bottle-washers and resident nudge for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, It�s my job to hector the membership about the composition of the bands� various sections. When one of the regulars can�t be there, his substitute has to be the right person to maintain the high level performance and therefore the happiness of those regulars who are in attendance. The importance of happiness being inversely proportional to financial gain means we�re looking for a lot of happiness. We usually get it to since in front of us sits the greatest big band book of the last forty years, written primarily by Thad Jones, with major contributions by Bob Brookmeyer and now Jim McNeely. The high happiness quotient means a low turnover rate but inevitably life and career choices lead to people leaving town and a resulting vacancy. These rare permanent positions occasion even more concern than the sub choices for in addition to the all important performance criteria, we�ll be traveling and living together and enduring the assorted travails of road life. (i.e. will the rooms ever be ready before we arrive?) Of course anyone who has been blooded by Illinois Jacquet and ray Charles as Jason Jackson has can certainly be considered road wise. Also, as we get longer in the tooth, new hires may be the ones to keep it going when we�re gone, as we�ve had to after Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, and, the opening being in my section (trombones), all my criticisms of others� choices will be returned with intrest should things not work out.
Happily, things are working out great, with accolades from the members coming in the form of merciless teasing, and questions to me asking...ââ?¬Âdoes Jason have a solo this set?ââ?¬Â Solos in any big band are scarce. Itââ?¬â?¢s a writers medium and even featured soloists spend more than ninety percent of their time on stage devoted to ensemble playing. So it is with considerable eagerness that I drop the needle - oops - shine the laser on this addition to Jasonââ?¬â?¢s portfolio - a small group set of tunes written and arranged by him.
The opener, RJ is reminiscent of Horace Silver and amply demonstrates in his big sound and well designed lines Jason�s grasp o
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