Customer Reviews

Night Flight

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Anyone interested in Big Band Jazz ought to have this album. Track 9, A WARM BREEZE , ought to be in every college band, must hear catagory. A flute lead over the sax section during the middle of the track is a wonderful experience. Wish there was more from this man.

Shocking -- Sammy Nestico has been one of the big names in big band jazz ever since he played with Count Basie years ago, yet hardly any of his albums show up on Amazon. Must have stuck to vinyl, I guess. Regardless, this album is one of the greatest ones out there, and yet incredibly difficult to find in stores. Can't tell you how many times I've let friends borrow this CD. Highlights include Fascinating Rhythm (best cover I've heard of the old Gershwin tune), Marguerite (outstanding Latin piece with some amazing solos), and I'm Beginning To See the Light (another flawless cover). It's one of my favorite jazz albums of all time, along with Kenton's "Cuban Fire"

if you like the arrangements sammy has done for count basie than this is a must have cd for your collection. this is one of my favorites that i play all the time

Of course that's only my opinion. Unfortunately, when you have a composing and arranging talent like Sammy's, there will be a lot of his material well played by a great number of talents. What this leads to is a lot of duplication of material. Even though there is replication by a number of highly talented musicians, such as the SWR Big Band as an example, I chose this one because of the material selection and the musicians.

The first eight selections were recorded in 1985 with what was essentially the Rob McConnell Boss Brass Orchestra. If you're familiar with this organization, you're aware of its talent and harmonic capabilities. My favorites on this are "Satin & Glass" with Guido Basso's flugelhorn, "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" a feature for the superb trombone artistry of Ian McDougall and the Latin tinged "Marguerite" with solos by guitarist Ed Bickert, tenor saxist Eugene Amaro and, once more, Guido Basso on flugelhorn.

The last four selections were taken from the Dark Orchid label recording of 1981 featuring a different set of talented West Coast musicians such as pianist Pete Jolly, trombonist Bill Watrous, Tommy Newsome on tenor sax, trumpeter Conte Candoli, Bud Shank on alto sax, Bob Hardaway on tenor and Louie Bellson on drums. These last four selections will be very familiar to Count Basie fans as results of a very fruitful relationship with Sammy.

I have some other releases of Sammy's music but they will contain duplicates and I consider this one to be the best! If you are a fan of big band, enjoy harmonization of the instruments in different settings and the fantastic solo talents of these musicians, this is a "must have" for your own collection. I guarantee you will play this over and over.

My wife and i have collected all of Sammy`s 10 recordings with the Count Basie band plus all of his own recordings and some not available for public purchase given to us by Sammy. We met Sammy and Shirley in Las Vegas and are e-mail friends. He said his new CD with the SWR band will be released March 2009

John & Virginia Wright
jazz72631@yahoo.com

This was recommended by a friend who has over 2000 jazz CD's. He said that this is a must have and I agree completely.

I love this CD and my wife and I listen to it often.