Customer Reviews

Explosive

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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I heard this group "rehearse" these numbers at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles in preparation for recording this album. They brought the house down. John Clayton is the new musical director at the Hollywood Bowl and it should be a swinging change.

The album itself features powerful brass, the genius of Milt Jackson and the alto of John's brother Jeff. From jazz "standards" like Bags Groove, named after Milt of course, and Monk's Evidence, to Back Home In Indiana to a new song Recovery, which Milt wrote in honor of his doctor this band excels in all moods and textures. The band has played together in LA for over a decade and it shows. Pleasant additions are Snooky Young and Byron Strickland (sp?) a lead trumpet brought in for this recording.

Full disclosure: My daughter's trombone teacher is in the band. But I'm buying copies for MY friends.

I saw this group in concert a few weeks ago and had to have some of their disc for my collection. I targeted this particular CD for purchase because it contains the haunting yet beautiful song "Emily." The song sounded just as good on the disc as it did live.

This orchestra is highly underrated and any of their CD's would be a wise purchase. They have assembled several of the greatest jazz performers of today. A few members of the band have actually played with some of the late, great legends of jazz such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown etc.

Their arrangements are always imaginative and very tight. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with this disc!

Everything you could want in a jazz album: Blazing horn section on the level of Basie's "Hefti" sessions; gorgeous, quiet small-group interludes; superbly recorded; the great Milt Jackson; great charts; great songs. great, great, great. I mean, the damn thing is a knockout. The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, if this is any indication, is one of the best in the country. I need to find out more about these cats.
P.S. -- very accessible for the novice or person who wants to get into jazz but is afraid of a lot of the "out there" playing. Anyone, even kids, would love this. Top rating.

I stumbled across this cd today and have fallen in love with it. Truly a great cd to turn up the volume and hang on for the ride. Wish I could have been at the Jazz Bakery with the previous reviewer - I heard Milt was smiling the entire time.