Customer Reviews

Live in Digital

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent CD. I've been looking everywhere for a copy of T.O. on CD and have had no luck until this CD. The Groovin' High recording is a very good and famous one. I've heard it on the radio a few times and was surprised to find that this is the same one. I'm very excited to have this CD and thoroughly recommend it to any jazz fan, especially a trombone fan - Don't let the valve trombone turn you off. It's great!

This is my first Rob McConnell CD, and it won't be my last. In my opinion, this is one of the best, if not the best Big Band albums I have. McConnell's band, which was recorded in 1980 for this CD, completely blows away newer bands like Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (Goodwin is awesome, but this CD blew me away). If you are a fan of Jazz and/or Big Band, you can't go wrong here. If you've never listened to Jazz or Big Band, this is also a great CD to start with!

This band is one of my favorites because:
The arrangements are innovative; the ensemble playing is superlative, when they record in the studio; Terry Clarke is one great drummer -- his fills and accents will have you falling out of your chair. But... this album has the worst microphone placement and the worst mixing I have ever heard. And, one of the band's weaknesses appears glaringly -- the soloists, particularly the brass soloists, are not a strength of the band. If you want to hear great soloists in a big band context, check out Be Bop Big Band by Carl Saunders. I love Ed Bickert, but somehow the big band does not bring out his strengths as well as the small group format, e.g., with Paul Desmond or Lorne Lofsky. And in this recording, the bass player sounds like he was in the next town, the drum miking is awful, and the band's playing is way weaker than it is when they get into the studio and polish up the playing. These particular arrangements are difficult to execute but not the most inventive, and though Rob pushes, this just wasn't their night IMHO.

Loved this album when it was first released--loaned it to a student. Never got it back, so I was ecstatic to find it on CD. The band is amazing--if you appreciate live and unadulterated music. It really demonstrates how much we rely on "digitally enhancing" when listening these days. There's nothing that compares to the sound of real live people playing real live instruments, without a computer "making it better" by modifying pitch, speed, etc.

What a ridiculous comment.............microphone placement ???? It couldn't be better................and I too have been on numerous stages throuought the world in my 55+ years of trumpet playing. Since purchasing new in 1980,I have worn-out 2 vinyl copies of this recording !!!!
Buy this CD !!!!!!!!!!!!arrangements, performances, setting (small club = intimacy not normall available on CD's), all PERFECT.........AS IF YOU'RE THERE !! Owning all of the BB records permits a great opportunity for comparison. "Live in Digital @ the el Mocambo" is even more akin to being in the club room itself than virtually any other "live" recording you are likely to hear. And the soloists as well as the lead players (Chykoski is a major GAS) are in total control. Buy before it goes out of print !!!!