Customer Reviews

Property Of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band XXL

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

yeah, im an active jazz musician, and i actually play alot of charts by goodwin. his songs are always fun to play and listen to, adding some edge to jazz. hes a mix of old and new, not leaving the confines of old tiem big band cahrts, but not charting into new grounds as far as modern jazz goes. high paced, rock-ish, swing, out-of-this-world (check out hunting wabbits, its gordon's view of cartoons). fun stuff, definately a good buy,

It's hard to say what is more impressive - the arrangemants or the playing. But one thing is clear: this is a "must own" for lovers of big band music.

I have longed to here creative new big band music. Here it is in "XXL". I cannot stop listening to it. Every cut is to use an old cliche "very tasty". My kudos go out to the writers and arrangers of all the cuts. All the performers are brilliant, with cutting adge expertise that is a delight to listen. I have purchased both albums and look forward to the next.
This is new music. This is great music. This is music that professionals in love with their music aspire to play.

I had a chance to hear this band live, and it was INCREDIBLE! High Maintenance is one of those songs that you can listen to over and over again without ever getting bored. You can't truly appreciate it until you have tried playing it. The band is just so tight and impressive. There truly isn't anything like it!

Congrats Gordan on another successful cd and dvd! Me and my buddies devin eddleman and brian clancy love gordan and the phat band. You guys are AMAZING! I got swingin late but still loved it then i got Close to the Edge which was one of the best and then i got the ultimate XXL which creates new odds in big band jazz. Michael Brecker sounded terrific and take 6 with brian mcknight was absolutely smokin on Comes Love and It's All Right With Me were burnin a hole in my cd player. In Jazz Police, Jay Mason, honks his horn as hard as can which is simply amazing! I was blown away by Huck on Swingin and wanted to play bari because of him, but now i hear mason doing the same darn job that huck did and now want to play like huck and mason! They are simply the best in the business and always will be. I wish you guys best of luck in the years to come and i hope you win a grammy this year for your accomplishments!!

This music has become the music that I compare all others to. The sound recording is what other music recordings should try to accomplish. The horn section is so tight that they sound like they are glued together, although each of them is strong enough to be a soloist. The Take 6 vocals add a wonderful vocal aspect. I can't wait to hear more Gordon Goodwin CDs. I hope that if he includes Johnny Mathis, the song will be a "crooner". I would also love to hear one song with New York Voices. Other recordings should strive to attain such great sound, production, and overall appeal!!! Please, Gordon Goodwin, make some more big bad music!!!

Yep, they're back... and waste no time getting started! After a 3-year absence from recording, the Phat Band is back with their second effort, "XXL". Once again, Gordon and his L.A. snipers have proven why they are the most compelling big band of the past 20 years. There are too many outstanding moments to mention on this CD, so I'll just give the highlights. Question: How does one give highlights when every tune burns?

The CD opens with the up swing-shuffle tune "High Maintenance". This cut features burnin' solos by saxist Eric Marienthal and trombonist Andy Martin. Next, Michael Brecker contributes his customarily ridiculous playing on "A Game Of Inches". Pop star Brian McKnight weighs in, with friends Take 6, to pour soul all over the 1930's tune "Comes Love". Eddie Daniels is arguably the finest clarinetist on the planet, jazz or classical. He proves it once again on "Thad Said No". On "Hunting Wabbits", Gordon features the band - Warning: L.A.'s finest are playing at virtuoso level on this zany take on "Looney Tunes" music (with another "sick" solo by Andy Martin -- HANG ON!). A little later, lead trumpeter Wayne Bergeron checks in on his feature, "Horn Of Puente" - and takes it to the stratosphere! Next, Gordon features the band again on the Brian Setzer-ish "Jazz Police" (listen to bari saxist Jay Mason "honk" on this one). On "What Sammy Said", a tribute to the great Sammy Nestico, the BPB proves that it can put it in the pocket with the best of them (with great solos by trumpeter Bob Summers and saxist Brian Scanlon). The CD wraps with "Let The Good Times Roll". This tune features the legendary Johnny Mathis in fine form, while the band swings us home.

It's nice to know that in an era when nothing seems to effect anyone anymore, Gordon Goodwin always manages to surprise -- and make us eagerly wait by our mailboxes. Genius-level charts, incredible guests, impeccable soloing, and the BPB's usual ridiculously tight ensemble playing make "XXL" an amazing sophomore effort. As they did with "Swingin' For The Fences", they have put all other big bands out there on notice. Gordon, you've done it again! A billion stars for this one! I love it!

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band is by far the tightest Big Band I've ever heard. Each and every section is incomparable to anything I've ever come across before, because not only are they tight individually, but also as a section, and as a whole band, and as a drummer from a Big Band, I can tell you that this is not something that's easily achieved.
The creativity of the solos, the timbres involved throughout the band, and the variety of styles adds up to an album that is, and will be for a very long time, the top of my list.
If Gordon were to bring out any more CD's, I'd be the first in the cue!
Absolutely outstanding!

I was astounded by the amount of talent on this cd. Every single chart just about blew me straight out of my seat. Gordon Goodwin is a genious. How do you write something like Hunting Wabbits and then enough talent to play it?!?!?! Take 6, Brian McKnight, and Mike Brecker are all amazing artists that helped make this cd even better. The Phat Band is great!! This was one of the best big bands I have ever had the honor to listen to.

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band is an incredible band. His charts are original and fun and the band, mostly LA studio guys, kicks butt! If you like contemporary big band, you will love this.