The LA-based and Grammy-winning Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band scores another victory with this latest release. Usually, the BPB discs feature guest appearances to help goose up the radio play; it’s not used, or needed this time, sans the frenetic closer “Party Rockers” with Judith Hill. The songs are all arranged or composed by Goodwin, with a take of “On Green Dolphin Street” that tips the hat to pianist Oscar Peterson by the leader delivering some impressive fingerwork, while Bob Summers includes a sizzling trumpet solo. Goodwin’s career in film scoring is joyfully observed on “Get Smart” and a Carl Stallings-debted “Years of Therapy” that has some slick charts framing Wayne Bergeron’s blistering trumpet solos. Flag waving and fist pumping pieces such as “Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” and the Basie-esque “Does This Chart Make Me Look Phat?” spotlight the airtight horn sections as well as the grooving rhythm team, while clever pieces such as “Life In The Bubble” spotlight tricky and sophisticated charts that mix swing with brains.
One of the few bands that has its own sound and vision-not a bad combo in this day of synthesized and smooth jazz.
Concord Music Group