While they may not tour like back in the Swing Era, Big Bands are still making waves in local venues and colleges. Here are a couple samples.
Conductor Mike Holober plays piano and keyboards while leading his big band through two large suites and beyond on this two disc set. The NYC-based orchestra. The four-part “Flow” has Gil Evans-ish harmonics with muted reeds and horns, while soulful pulsations team with Marvin Stamm’s trumpet on “Opalescence.” The tone poem “Harlem” mixes blues hues as lead ins to Billy Drewe’s pungent alto and Scott Wendholt’s hip trumpet.
The five movement “Hiding Out” opens with a declaratory teaming of Stamm with Ben Kono’s piccolo, as Holober’s emotive piano join in with Steve Cardenas’ electric guitar on the rocking “Compelled.” A post bopping “It Was Just The Wind” is an 18 minute opus in itself with noir colors with the concluding “Caminhos Cruzados” a gorgeously framed tune for Marvin Stamm’s glowing flugelhorn. Sophisticated colors.
Vince Mendoza conducts the Temple Studio Orchestra, filled with brass, strings and rhythm sections for a trio of modern musings for guests Terell Stafford on trumpet and alto saxist DickOatts. Both are given space on the upbeat and snapping “Bebop Elation” with Stafford’s horn brilliantly warm n the glowing “Solace and Inspiration.” The charts are stark and dramatic with modern and luminescent harmonies on the evocative “Love, A Beautiful Force.” Clear and friendly skies.