Customer Reviews

Old School New Lessons

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Though he's best known for his work with the Yellowjackets, Bob Mintzer was producing superb big band recordings long before joining that quartet. His writing for larger ensembles has always knocked me out, and this disc, culled from two live concerts at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsman's Guild Hall, ranks with his best. His regular bandmates join him on two numbers-the Latin funk of "Mofongo" and mellow groovin' "Mosaic"-and vocalist extraordinaire Kurt Elling steps in for two Coltrane-connected tunes-a surprising sprite of an arrangement on "My One and Only Love" that bears no resemblance whatsoever to Johnny Hartman's read, and the potent "Resolution" section of A Love Supreme complete with the singer's original lyrics. The big band brings an expansive new depth to YJ classic "Runferyerlife," and adds richness to the other Mintzer originals we recognize from the Jacket discography. The saxophonist himself delivers some of the set's best solos, but the whole aggregation wails, moans and exalts ferociously.
--originally published in Port Folio Weekly, 3/28/06.
Copyright 2006 Port Folio Weekly. Used by permission.

Bob Mintzer's big band writing is great, the musicians are wonderful and there is a lot to like on this CD ... except for the Vocals of Kurt Elling on "My One and Only Love" and "Resolution". Honest to God - when I first heard this recording of "My One and Only Love" I thought it was a joke. Elling's pitch is all over the place, you can't tell if this is supposed to be jazz styling or if he just can't find the notes. Why didn't they do another take? On "Resolution" he's trying to sound like Coltrane or something but it just grates on the nerves. It starts off with a promising big band intro and then Elling starts in with the OOOHHH, blah be do ba-dah, be blop blop do be daa stuff and then there seems to be some actual words and then I'm not so sure what's happening. It sounds like the part of the Coltrane solos they should have edited out.
Mr. Elling is probably a fine fellow but his singing is too inflected for my taste, these two tracks are downright grating. The rest of the CD is great.

The other reviews offer excellent insight on the genre and arrangement. So I'll offer a more technical evaluation...

Some of the finest live recordings in my collection! Bob Mintzer has always been a benchmark in audio reproduction. This album is a classic example. Clean, concise, the imaging is excellent. I also love the way he mixes the band "up front".

I WILL offer comment on Kurt Elling's vocal performance in "Resolution". I find it quite musical and entertaining. Parts of it remind me a bit of the Transfer's Bop runs in "Birdland". His "bending" of the pitch is more a manner of style and interpretation. I guess some might not see this?

Anyway, a GREAT album! Buy it and enjoy! :-)

Bob Mintzer's changers and voicings on the opening "Not Quite Yet" are exquisite and refreshing. That tune should become a new standard chart for big bands everywhere. Bob Mintzer and pianist Phil Markowitz play well executed solos. There are some fusion styled numbers with the Yellow Jackets as guests and the Mark Murphy influenced Kurt Elling is a guest vocalist. Listening to this album reminds one of classic Thad Jones Mel Lewis stuff from "back in the day." It is good to know that "that sound is" being kept alive: neither traditional sound of Baise nor the more dissonant experimentation of Maria Schneider: it is somewhere in between.