Album review: Steve Fidyk Live Wire Broad Band - Red Beats

What better way to start off 2023 than with a swinging big band record? Well, maybe I could think of one or two but not many. This is one of those albums that take you back to the days when Boyd, Stan, Woody, Dizzy, Maynard, Buddy and others were pushing the old swing band formula forward just as Steve Fidyk is doing here. Retaining the foresight of his predecessors and adding his own vision.

It's a big band, well actually, two big bands alternating on various tracks, that swings its ass off with no prisoners taken. Leader, composer Fidyk drives his troops forward in the manner of a man whose inspiration derives from listening to Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, Sonny Payne, Louis Bellson and Joe Morello.

Morello was one of Fidyk's drum tutors and provided the basis for Steve to become a great drummer himself as well as a renowned percussion educator.

The soloists are top notch, many of them alumni of Buddy, Woody and Maynard not to mention the Airmen of Note, the Navy Commodores and the Army Blues Big Band - Glenn Miller certainly had the right idea!

With groups such as this there is no more likelihood  of the big band dying as there is of the symphony orchestra - as long as you buy the albums and go to the concerts. Let's face it, wherever you live in the western world there is a big band near you. And, if there isn't, just make a few phone calls and there will be. Lance.

Available from Blue Canteen Music.