There are basically two ways to appreciate jazz. One is to follow the world of improvisation, and the other is to embrace the wondrous arrangements. When the two work together in a symbiotic relationship, the essence of jazz is reached, and the world is at piece. The Ghost Train Orchestra is a small big band that (except for the last chaotically swinging 9 minute opus) focuses on concisely swinging and manically arranged material in the spirit of John Kirby, Carl Stallings, Raymond Scott and even a dash of Spike Jones for spice. Compositions by Alec Wilder dominate the set, such as a klezmerish “It’s Silk, Feel It!” and the intricately hot “The Children Met The Train” (with a hot trumpet solo by Brian Carpenter). Cartoonish material such as “Volcanic” and “The Happy Farmer” mix frenetic rhythms with some hot soloing by Petr Cancura/ts and Andy Laster/as-fl and Avi Bortnick’s Dick Dale guitar riffs liven up Charlie Shavers’ “Dawn on the Desert.” This band makes you remember one of the missing ingredients of today’s jazz-FUN!!!
www.ghosttrainorchestra.com