Here it is, the first of three lockdown crowd funded albums. Harlem '58 is the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's homage to some of the all time greats, taking as its inspiration Art Kane's iconic photograph of fifty seven jazz musicians standing, some sitting, for a group portrait in Harlem, NYC. Organising a big band recording session at the best of times can't be easy, doing so in the middle of a pandemic must be nigh on impossible. Michael Lamb, the SSBB's MD, wasn't to be deterred...
Eight tracks spanning some forty two minutes feature several soloists from the SSBB's immaculate sections. From Evenin' (Alice Grace singing Jimmy Rushing, Dave Kerridge, tenor, Pete Tanton, trumpet, Chris Kurji-Smith, trombone) through to Blues Machine (Graham Don, piano, Keith Robinson, alto sax, Chris Kurji-Smith, trombone), it is apparent that there isn't a weak link in the ensemble. Those who've heard the band in concert will surely attest to that!
On first hearing, it's the arrangers who come to the fore - Bill Holman, Jim Martin, Tom Kubis, Sammy Nestico to name but four. And then there's M. Lamb arr.. MD Lamb's arrangement of Evenin' loses little, if anything, alongside the charts of his more illustrious fellow arrangers. 'Round Midnight, Bemsha Swing and Doxy made a good first impression, as did Goodbye Pork Pie Hat with Alice Grace's considered lyrics. On second hearing it's likely that other cuts on the album will become firm favourites. On third hearing, the same thing, fourth time, fifth time and on, a sure sign of a good album. Harlem '58 is full of riches, buy it, play it, love it.
Harlem '58 by the Strictly Smokin' Big Band (recorded at The Globe, Newcastle, May 2021) is available from today (Thursday September 9) on Jazz Sound Records.
Michael Lamb (MD): Steve Summers, Keith Robinson (alto sax), Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge (tenor sax), Laurie Rangecroft (baritone sax); Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Pete Tanton, Michael Lamb (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, Chris Kurji-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums); Alice Grace (vocals)
Evenin'; Blue Skies; 'Round Midnight; Bemsha Swing; Doxy; Song for My Father; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Blues Machine.
1 comment :
Absolutely wonderful surprise when I opened my email and to my delight an SSBB mail announcing the release and providing the link to download the album with the CD to follow . After finally figuring out how to get the album from my laptop to a mobile device I was off in the car , as I had a few errands today . For once I was absolutely delighted to find that the routes I was travelling seemed to be plagued with slow traffic and jams because I managed two plays of this fabulous album .
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