Jeff Benedict Big Band: The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

Alto saxist, Professor Emeritus of Music at Cal State LA and vet of the LA music scene, Jeff Benedict has put together a hip big band of originals and some covers with creative charts. The jazz orchestra strolls well to a nifty electric bass line on the relaxed blues of “Moonscape” with rich solos by Dave Askren/g,Jeff Ellwood/ts and Paul McKee/tb. The horns get punchy as they counterbalance some exotic reeds on the funky read of Miles Davis’ “Nardis” , while the theme from the early Bill Cosby Show (“Hikky Burr”), penned by Quincy Jones, is filled with fun wacka wooka wonders. A Carl Stallings cartoonish “Tom and Jerry” is a cheerful Latin romp featuring Brian Bettger’s lucid trumpet, with the leader taking a nice solo on the percussive avalanche of the rocking “The Mighty Dollar”. Benedict’s charts keep you alert, with the team swaying to a 12/8 “Armadillo” as the leader and McKee rollick to the sections, and the reeds give a rapturous intro to a swinging take of “Cheek to Cheek”. Clever and charming.

www.marooncreekmusic.com

 

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