On the Wild Side

John La Barbera | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 15, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jazz Compass
• ASIN: B0001BS4S8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,647 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired musicianship!, November 22, 2004

By 

Ruth Radens (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Wild Side (Audio CD)

I had heard La Barbera's work before -- he was the principal arranger for the Buddy Rich Band for over 15 years and contributed to arrangements by a host of other leaders such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Tormé, Harry James, Glenn Miller, and Doc Severinsen - but this is the first CD I've found under his own name. With kudos on the back of the CD from the likes of Elmer Bernstein (composer of the title track) and Horace Silver, I knew before listening that this recording would become a solid staple of my big band library... and it has lived up to that promise. Crisp, bright, and solid arrangements swing from the first cut. The tracks move from rich symphonic fullness to dynamic smaller ensembles - embracing a full palette of colors - and the musicianship is top flight with folks like Bill Cunliffe on Keyboards, Clay Jenkins on trumpet, Pat La Barbera and Bob Shepard on tenor, and Joe La Barbera on drums. Horace Silver wrote: "Good arrangements -- good band -- good performance." I couldn't agree more!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tight, big band sound, June 27, 2008

By 

R. Heubel "RH from BC" (Battle Creek MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Wild Side (Audio CD)

Nice album. Good arrangements. High quality recording - it feels like you are in the same room with the band and you can hear the individual players. I liked the very interesting version of "Eleanor Rigby".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff from the LaBarbera brothers and friends, May 7, 2008

By 

Pat Nava "Patrick "The Lab Rat"" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Wild Side (Audio CD)

The two outstanding tracks are "Tiger Of San Pedro" (originally played by Bill Watrous' Manhattan Wildlife Refuge on the album "Tiger Of San Pedro") and "So What," both featuring excellent tenor sax solos from Pat LaBarbera. Also, excellent piano work on "Cloth Of Silver" from another ex-Buddy Rich sideman - Bill Cunliffe