Big bands, even during COVID, can still swing…
Dan Radlauer finally got fed up with the whole COVID draconian lockdown and did a session with some LA cats, most notably for Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, in this satisfying swinging session. BPB members include Wayne Bergeron/tp, Andy Martin/tb and Rich Shaw/b along with Mark Hollinsworth/wwinds, Jake Reed-MB Gordy-Nico Vasquez/dr, Bart samolis/ab, Nathan York/eb, some cameo guests and the leader on a slew of various instruments, unfortunately including the accordion.
The songs themselves are an absolute hoot, ranging from a cajun flavored “Alligator Gumbo” (with a nice solo by Martin) to a Woody Herman clarinet sectioned bopper “Herding Cats”. Hollingsworth taps into his inner shtetl on the two stepping klezmer tune “Schmaltz Appeal” while his flute is gorgeous on the elegiac “Outside The Box”. Bergeron is clear on the noir themed “Molasses” and the whole band sways to Gil Evans-style harmonies on “A Separate Peace”. Look! Here comes the kitchen sink!
Ok, I’m going to attempt to write a review of the Saskatchewan All Star Big Band without using the word “tundra”, although I just used it. Musical Director Fred Stride brings his compositions to be delivered by a 20 member team along with guests Cam Wilson/vi, Derry Byrne/tp and Stride himself on the extra keyboards. The cd/dvd is comprised of an 8 part “Saskatchewan Suite”, taking you on a musical journey via musical Cinemascope. Movements similar to vintage Copland are produced on the delicate soundscape of “The Place” (with some nice soloing by Steve Kaldestand/ts and PJ Perry/ss) while the sax section getting frisky in support of violinist Ed MInevich on “The In-Between”. The horns get elegiac on “Thank You, Mr. Douglas” and the team rocks out to Ted Warren’s backbeat on the journey of “Saskatchesport”. The closing “Saskatchejazz” is a take of a jazz standard to bring the history of the story of jazz chronologically from ragtime to freebop, with solos and sections abounding in joy. Big and bold…Oh, Canada!