Customer Reviews

Live at Blues Alley

5 star:		(4)
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Mark Taylor and Steve Fidyk's new live disc is inspired and hard swinging. The highlight of the cd is big band specialist Steve Fidyk's both mean driving and dynamic playing. The band is certainly in league with the great bands of this era, and Steve kicks in a fashion reminiscent of Mel Lewis' command and Buddy's incendiery temperment. The biggest surprise is Brush Taps; a hip and delicate expression of brush mastery. If you dig the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, VO, or any of the great bands (Kenton, Basie, you get the idea), then you'll like this....ALOT. Enjoy!

I was not familiar with the Taylor/Fidyk big band although I knew of Taylor's arrangements for Stan Kenton. This is an amazing recording. The quality is superb, especially considering that it was recorded in a live setting. The fact that it was live probably adds some of the spark that makes this such a wonderful listening experience. I wished that I had actually been there to experience the electricity that the live audience had to feel. At the same time some of that electricity comes across because it was recorded live. Anyone who loves big band music will love this album! As one who plays in two big bands I can appreciate the pleasure the Taylor (and the Fidyk) arrangements must have given to the players. I bought the album mainly to hear 'Gorillaman Blues' because our band plays it. I'm so glad I made the purchase.

This CD really swings! The band, a mixture of Army and Air Force musicians, is really tight. The lead trumpet (Liesl Whitaker), bass trombone (Jeff Cortazzo), and baritone sax (Scott Silbert) are exceptional. The sound quality is especially high for a live recording. This session is a nice follow up to their debut album "A Perfect Match." Fans of modern big band music will definitely enjoy this one.

Saxes:
Joseph Henson (tenor),Tedd Baker (tenor), Bill Linney(alto), Antonio Orta(alto), Scott Silbert (bari)

Trombones:
Matt Niess, Jim McFalls, Jay Gibble, Jeff Cortazzo(bass)

Trumpets:
Liesl Whitaker(lead), Brian MacDonald, Craig Fraedrich, Graham Breedlove

Rhythm:
Tony Nalker(p), Jim Roberts(b), Steve Fidyk(d)

Killen CD!! This is one of the most swingin big bands on the market today. Nice job guys!