GRP is best known equally a label specializing inward slick in addition to accessible jazz, but, inward 1992, labelheads artist/dave-grusin-mn0000684920">Dave Grusin in addition to artist/larry-rosen-mn0000135489">Larry Rosen decided to set together a conventional but star-studded big band comprised of their company's top players. The recordings featured such musicians equally artist/arturo-sandoval-mn0000575122">Arturo Sandoval, artist/randy-brecker-mn0000332725">Randy Brecker, artist/chuck-findley-mn0000099711">Chuck Findley, artist/dave-grusin-mn0000684920">Dave Grusin, artist/ernie-watts-mn0000204591">Ernie Watts, artist/bob-mintzer-mn0000765221">Bob Mintzer, artist/dave-valentin-mn0000625994">Dave Valentin, artist/john-patitucci-mn0000188776">John Patitucci, in addition to fifty-fifty artist/tom-scott-mn0000934350">Tom Scott, artist/eric-marienthal-mn0000195442">Eric Marienthal, artist/nelson-rangell-mn0000380976">Nelson Rangell, in addition to artist/lee-ritenour-mn0000228444">Lee Ritenour playing straightahead charts of jazz standards from the 1950s in addition to '60s. The recordings truly offering few surprises (other than the fact that artist/scott-mn0000934350">Scott in addition to companionship nonetheless recall how to play bop), but are enjoyable outings.
Lee Ritenour, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker in addition to other big names from Dave Grushin's jazz label gather for a one-day, en masse blow-out. The repertoire includes be-bop, post-bop in addition to contemporary standards, amongst Coltrane's "Blue Train" in addition to Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" highlighting a disc that's markedly to a greater extent than spirited than the GRP norm.
Wow! I origin heard this album 10 years agone patch a fledgling jazz instrumentalist inward high school. This album went on to teach the best of my collection - I fifty-fifty spun it then many times inward my histrion that I had to purchase to a greater extent than or less other re-create of it. What makes this album then amazing is non neccessarily the setlist, but the musicians! GRP assembled to a greater extent than or less of their slap-up label performers in addition to got them together for this projection (with a few to a greater extent than to follow). All of the musicians are incredible, but you'll notice to a greater extent than or less standout performances from Eric Marienthal (Alto Sax), Arturo Sandoval (Trumpet), Randy Brecker (Trumpet), in addition to Bob Mintzer (Tenor Sax). I read somewhere that music is the closest affair to magic at that spot is, in addition to afterwards listening to this album, you'll run into why.
"Airegin" sets the phase nicely, followed yesteryear a perfect rendition of Coltrane's "Blue Train", amongst the best 24 bar blues solo I've ever heard from Bob Mintzer on Tenor Sax. "Donna Lee" features to a greater extent than or less blistering solo operate yesteryear Nelson Rangell, Gary Burton, in addition to Eddie Daniels. "Maiden Voyage" is slow in addition to set back, leading correct upwardly to ane of the truthful gems of this album, "Sister Sadie", a crowd-pleaser if ever at that spot was one. Marienthal's amazing Sax operate nonetheless knocks me dorsum every fourth dimension I hear it! Up adjacent is "The Sidewinder", in addition to this is an first-class organisation that Randy Brecker lights upwardly on Trumpet. The adjacent iii tunes accept it downwards a notch - "Seven Steps to Heaven" features a slap-up (and rare)Marienthal Tenor Sax solo, in addition to "I Remember Clifford" stands out equally the album's premeire ballad. Sandoval is inhumanly expert equally always, in addition to leads correct upwardly to an amazing climax! "Footprints" follows, featuring to a greater extent than or less slap-up jazz guitar yesteryear Lee Ritenour. The terminal slap-up showstopper of the album is adjacent - Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca". Across the board amazing performances yesteryear the ensemble, featuring Dave Valentin (Flute), killer Piano yesteryear the Killer Kenny Kirkland, in addition to the ultimate Trumpet battle royale yesteryear Sandoval in addition to Brecker! The album is rounded out amongst to a greater extent than slap-up operate on Sax yesteryear Ernie Watts on " 'Round Midnight", in addition to closes amongst a polish version of Chick Corea's "Spain".
I receive got a real various music collection, in addition to I'm proud to spot this album upwardly at the top amongst other masterpieces of rock, jazz in addition to classical music. I challenge you lot to psyche to this CD in addition to try- simply endeavour non to bask it. I dare you!
This album is an absolute must-have for everybody, who likes jazz, because, afterwards you lot volition psyche to it, it volition brand you lot non simply similar jazz, but LOVE jazz in addition to teach devoted to it. I've had this CD for a twosome of years yesteryear now, but nonetheless I travel along listening to it at to the lowest degree 5 days a week. It's simply gorgeous. My favorites are The Sidewinder, Sister Sadie in addition to Blue Train. If you lot purchase this one, you'll never regret it. Guaranteed.
When this CD was released, it was a major surprise. GRP is a label whose initial reputation was made on pop-ish jazz. However, co-founders Dave Grusin in addition to Larry Rosen e'er had a dearest for the audio of big bands in addition to for difficult bop. For this set, they gathered together to a greater extent than or less of the around notable players on their label to play 12 jazz standards dating from the mid-'40s ("Donna Lee") upwardly to the early on '70s ("Spain"). The lineup of musicians is quite impressive, comprised of trumpeters Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, in addition to Sal Marquez; trombonist George Bohanon (who had to survive imported since GRP did non receive got whatever trombonists); a reed department of Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, Bob Mintzer, Ernie Watts in addition to Tom Scott; bassist John Patitucci; drummer Dave Weckl; in addition to several alternating pianists (Grusin, Russell Ferrante, Kenny Kirkland, in addition to David Benoit), addition such guests equally guitarist Lee Ritenour, flutist Dave Valentine, vibraphonist Gary Burton, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, in addition to percussionist Alex Acuna. On the strictly straight-ahead set, which has such tunes equally "Blue Train," "Sister Sadie," "The Sidewinder," in addition to "Manteca," all of the musicians are featured adequately. It is a particular revelation hearing Marienthal in addition to Rangell audio passable inward this setting. Easily recommended to difficult bop in addition to big band collectors.
Track listing:
01 - Airegin
02 - Blue Train
03 - Donna Lee
04 - Maiden Voyage
05 - Sister Sadie
06 - The Sidewinder
07 - Seven Steps To Heaven
08 - I Remember Clifford
09 - Footprints
10 - Manteca
eleven - 'Round Midnight
12 - Spain
Personnel
Lee Ritenour (guitar);
Nelson Rangell (flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone);
Bob Mintzer (flute, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone);
Tom Scott (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone);
Eric Marienthal, Ernie Watts (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone);
Dave Valentin (flute);
Eddie Daniels (clarinet);
Randy Brecker, Sal Marquez, Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, flugelhorn);
George Bohannon (trombone);
Dave Grusin, David Benoit, Kenny Kirkland, Russell Ferrante (piano);
Gary Burton (vibraphone);
Dave Weckl (drums);
Alex Acuña & the Unknowns, Alex Acuña (percussion)
John Patitucci - Bass.
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