Customer Reviews

Dream Band

5 star:		(4)
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I don't know why I bought this albumn, but thank God you can't wear out a CD as it is one of the most enjoyable I own. The Bill Holman arrangements are absolutely as swinging today as the day they were done. The drums of Mel Lewis...impeccable and drive the band to great heights. The album will put you in a good mood. It's bright, fun, creative and one of the most swinging CD you could own. I love it!

adding this to your collection. Gibbs played with Goodman in his early years as vibraphonist and that alone brings not just superb craftsmanship but a very swinging head and this does not let you down. The drive, execution and sheer fun that shines on this CD which chronicles live stuff from the late 50's (and beautifully rendered) will have you smiling any hour you turn it on...Mel's sticks and feet toss the beat all over with the thump
and verve of a careeening locomotive while the musicians play their hearts out behind Gibb's mastery and musical wit.

This entire series of the "Dream Band", with arrangements by Bill Holman, and great work by Med Flory, Conte Candoli, Joe Maini, and Mel Lewis driving the proceedings is worth the whole set - come to think of it, why isn't there a boxed set of these? From Gibbs' first countdown ("UHH, OOOH, EEE, AHHH...) the swinging is relaxed (not low-energy, just relaxed) and a joy. Great COOL Big Band Live recordings.

If you're looking for music that brings a smile and fills you with joy, check out all six of the Terry Gibbs dream band discs. Although recorded in the late '50s, the sound is quite decent. Some of the discs are from tapes Gibbs found in a closet, but someone at Fantasy did a fine job with them. The sound is very upfront, in-your-face. Although most tracks were recorded live at one of two LA clubs, there isn't too much of that live audience ambience. However, the shouts and enthusiasm of Gibbs and the band members ("Hammer, baby, hammer," during a vibes solo) come through and communicate beautifully. The charts are top notch, as are the players such as Al Porcino, Conte Condoli, Med Flory and more. The greatest tribute I can give to the spirit, charts and tightness of this band is that they can make the hoariest old chestnut fresh and not just listenable, but delightful. I could go through the rest of my life not hearing "Sweet Georgia Brown" again, but Gibbs version is so captivating and swinging that I not only avoid skipping to the next track, I actually enjoy it. Every disc is worth grabbing or downloading.