Sounds From the Road

Mike Vax | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Summit Records
• ASIN: B001U3QOXS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,351 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 14-APR-2009

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars State -of-the Art Big Band Jazz, December 12, 2009

By 

John Tapscott (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sounds From the Road (Audio CD)

Ten of the fourteen selections on the generous 75 minute "Sounds From the Road" CD come from the Mike Vax Orchestra's 2008 mid-western U.S. tour. Four selections were taken from the band's 2005 tour. Twelve of the band's members are alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, hence the band's name. Vax himself is a prominent alumnus of the Stan Kenton Orchestra (lead trumpet 1970-1972) and has worked diligently to keep the Kenton legacy alive.

It must be said, however, that while the band's music is often Kenton-like (and several charts here come from the Kenton book), there is a wide range of state-of-the art big band music here which gives the Vax Band a personality of its own.

The well-rounded concert program begins with Dale Devoe's hard-swinging Alex's Tune featuring three of the band's soloists (Kaminski, Whitfield and Huffsteter), while Gary Hobbs establishes his unmistakable sound and authority on drums. Kim Richmond arranged the very lovely Seascape as a feature for his own soprano sax which states the melody, improvises and leads the ensemble throughout. There are some very attractive saxophone section sounds on this track. Vax and saxophonist Pete Gallio are featured on the bullfighting song La Virgen de Macarena. Tenor saxophonist Alex Murzyn solos on the laid-back swinger Mr. Natural. Vax reprises the famous solo role (originally played by the late Conte Candoli) in Lennie Niehaus' classic arrangement of Pennies From Heaven for the Kenton band. Also from the Kenton book comes I'm Glad There Is You which displays Kenton's mastery of ballad and saxophone arranging. On a Slow Boat is a swinging and happy number featuring the vocal team of Scott Whitfield and Ginger Berglund, plus Whitfield's trombone is an powerfully swinging solo. Steve Huffsteter features himself on flugelhorn plus the band's five man trombone section on his melancholy Boney. Niehaus' arrangement of Baubles, Bangles and Beads from the Kenton dance book has an interesting Latin underpinning. Autumn in New York spotlights Carl Saunders' trumpet virtuosity. Bennett Freidman's Variations on a Brazilian Folk Song is a fun Latin romp. Astor Piazzolli's plaintive Oblivion, arranged by Bob Curnow, features Dennis Noday in a moving flugelhorn solo. This track is a definite high point of CD. The program's penultimate number is Bill Holman's show-stopping Malaguena, after which Vax introduces band members to an appreciative and enthusiastic audience. But there is one more number which really puts the cap on the CD. It is Norm Tompach's adaption of Kenton's arrangement of All the Things You Are featuring pianist Bob Florence, from one of the times Florence had toured with Vax's band. Bob's delicate and deep piano artistry casts a spell over the listener and the band's playing of the chart sends shivers down one's spine. It is an impressive tribute to both Florence and Kenton and provides a memorable ending to the CD.

The recorded sound on the CD has a bit of the unevenness you might expect from recording in different venues, but overall it is good and very listenable.

"Sounds From the Road" is an enjoyable and highly recommended CD. It is definitely one of 2009's top big band releases.