It was fitting that local big band leader Elliot Deutsch chose to have his CD Release Party on Election Night, as the album title Make Big Band’s Great Again is a play on President Trump’s ubiquitous motto.
Charming and enthused about his new album, Deutsch had the material itself stay clear of Blue or Red state allegiances, showing that music is still one of the few true unifying factors in the great country. Are any politicians taking note?
With his 17 piece orchestra, Deutsch featured material from both his past albums and even a dash of future projects. The goal of any band leader is to create a personal sound, and Deutsch has been able to achieve that lofty pursuit. His cheerful charts on pieces like his own “Two For One” or the movie ditty “Pure Imagination” mix beefy section work, upbeat harmonies and charging grooves provided by the rhythm team of Greg Sandler/dr, Brian Ward/b, Scott Healy/p and Will Brahm/g that lay a strong and toe tapping foundation for torrid solos by Dan Kaneyuki/as and Mike Cottone/tp. Even the fun and R&B-ish pieces like “Biscuits for Dogos” and as-yet recorded “True Love, False Gharial” mix clever charts that keep your attention with the various directions, yet leave enough space for creative solos.
A lurking and incessant pulse on “The Push” mixed the deep rivulet of a groove with the swirling saxes to surround tenor saxist Colin Kupka’s wild and extended Coltranesque excursion, while even a ditty like “Happy Birthday,” dedicated to Deutch’s wife, mixed uptown sophistication with a rich solos by Sean Shackelford/tb and Joe Santa Maria/ts.
The material from the new album was presented in order, with a richly harmonized and respectful “America the Beautiful” which segued into the thick sax section teaming with a soulful strutting rhythm on “Fake News.” The danceable “Repeal and Replace” featured a sizzling guitar solo by Will Brahm before guest trombone legend Bob McChesney brought the house down with a gorgeously sweet and panoramic read of “Pink Sunset.”
As bassist Brian Ward mixed in James Brown bass grooves, McChesney, Healy and Brahm did some Funky Chicken solos on an infectious “The Cassowary” before Deutsch and company encored with a high charged Latin Lover of “Sorry For Last Night.”
As Deutsch mentioned before the show, “I want to perform music that I’d like to listen to myself.” If that were the case, Deutsch was in good company at the packed Vitello’s Upstairs on Election Night.
Upcoming shows at Vitello’s include Jim Caruso’s Cast Party with Billy Stricth & Jane Monheit 11/07-09, Benny Benack III/11/12, The Jazz Cartel 11/21, Danny Jonukuchi Big Band 11/28 and Wycliff Gordon 11/30.