Customer Reviews

Favorite Things

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"I just listened to the new MJT disc several times. I LOVE this disc! The new charts are stellar! They are pushing forward the quality of jazz vocabulary writing for tubas and euphoniums to a higher level than I've heard before. The band sounds great, the solos are ALL terrific. The euphs blow me away with the vocab and the chops. I'm most proud of Joe Murphy and Rich Perry and the INCREDIBLE solos on their part...so much tastiness! They are showing the way it ought to go....YES!! The most surprising thing for me is the beautiful integration of Jim Ferguson's bass playing within the Low Brass format...both in his ensemble work and in his solos. (Great mix)! I feel that the best mixes on this great recording are on Connye Florance's 2 tracks. She is absolutely world class on this CD!!! This is the best rhythm section/low brass soundset I've ever heard! Total clarity all the time. You can pick one line out ,or "sit back" and dig the collective sound. That is the finest of balances. You guys are the standard bearers that could break this thing wide-mainstream-open for the tuba and the euphonium!"

Sam Pilafian
Professor of Music, Arizona State University

This second CD of R. Winston Morris' Modern Jazz Tuba Project will blow you away and will very soon become "One of Your Favorite Things"...into the future! The program is well chosen and superbly arranged in every instance. The personnel is listed and solos are properly credited, so every listener will have new musician friends to talk about, brag about, and admire. If your first reaction is the same as mine, you will listen to the CD at least three times before trying to memorize the players' names and their choruses on each tune. The excellent stylized vocals also add new dimensions. "A happy band that plays together stays together!" So, we await their next CD. In the meantime, this CD is a must for every tuba and euphonium enthusiast to add to their collection and put on their gift list!
Harvey Phillips, Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort

The new "Favorite Things" CD by the MJT Band is awesome--like Basie down an octave. Great charts, swingin' rhythm section and excellent soloists. You really "FEEL" this band.

Jim Self
LA Studios

Until you hear this group, you cannot imagine all that is possible with tubas and euphs!! This is the second CD they have recorded. and they show great depth, and paint with a broad brush.
The Tubas of Joe Murphy and company push the envelope right to the edge, and still maintain a tightness of a section rarely heard.
Bill Huber, lead euph,jazz solos,AND a five octave range! As in the first recording, he pushes himself to the limit, and as usual it paid off again!
Listen for Barry Greens solos on trombone! A great euph player.he adds some spice to this recording with his 'slide chops'!
Finally, Connye Florance, who would put this outstanding singer with a Tuba ensemble! A good thing someone did, her georgeous voice blends with, and embellishes with great style.Strange Thing indeed!
I've heard this group live, and I suggest this recording and a live performance when possible!
ALL performers are outstanding, do yourself a favor and purchase this recording!

The Modern Jazz Tuba Project's newest project, "My Favorite Things" is another landmark for the euphonium and tuba in jazz. This group, inspired by the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort of the late '70s/early 80s, picks up where the earlier group left off and is "pushing the envelope" in every respect. In addition to presenting new performances of two of Rich Matteson's arrangements for the MTC (Gregory is Here and Georgia on My Mind), members of the band add new pieces to the repertoire. Richard Perry's "Kool Kube," as well as his arrangement of Jack Peterson's "Hey Man," show off this imaginative artist's creativity with both pen and horn. Joe Murphy, also a prolific arranger for various jazz media, does his thing with outstanding arrangements of "Pick Up the Pieces" and "Sing, Sing, Sing." Joe's arrangements also feature his own solo horn work. Pianist Kevin Madill also gets in on the act with his settings of the title tune ("My Favorite Things"), "Strange Thing," and "This Masquerade." One of the things that really sets this CD apart is the vocal work by Connye Florance. Any notion that vocalists and tubists "just can't work together" is totally discredited here. "Strange Thing" and "This Masquerade" would charm any jazz club audience and leave them asking for more. Every member of this group, including a hard swinging rhythm section, is very much on top of his game. When you put this one into your CD player, you're going to find yourself hitting the "repeat" button after every tune.

I admit I have been a fan of the Modern Jazz Tubas since the debut of their first album. This second one is simply Off The Charts! I am very impressed with the command and control of so many things such as tempo, dynamics, intonation, and STYLE that puts many big bands to shame. Beginning with a swing in three of "My Favorite Things," I just could not keep my feet from tapping all the way to "Sing, Sing Sing"! Talk about solos - these guys are incredible! You got to listen to Richard Perry on F Tuba in Jack Peterson's "Hey Man"! And how about that standard "Georgia On My Mind" from the lengendary Rich Matteson files! There is not one second of bordom on this CD. I love the arrangements and the tunes. Its definitely a must buy - and I am talking to everyone out there who is NOT a tubist!!! Mark Nelson

I read a reference a couple weeks ago to a jazz composition with tuba, but hadn't thought more about it until now. So I did a Google search for jazz and tuba, and it linked directly here. It's hard to believe I hit paydirt on the first attempt, but the Modern Jazz Tuba Project plays perfectly, the compositions are classic, and the recorded sound is top notch. Highly recommended.

Lovers of jazz and lovers of the lower registers of the brass section should not miss this CD: it's hard to get in the UK for some reason, but well worth the hunt.

These guys play great! Sound, technique, swingin' rhythm section. Can't miss.

This is not only great tuba playing, but very tastefully arranged and great Jazz.