Details, Trivia & Musings
See Gary's Comments Quoted in Downbeat!
Gary is quoted twice in a Downbeat magazine article entitled "My Favorite Big Band Album: 25 Essential Recordings"!
His quotes appear on pages 41 and 44 of the magazine, commenting on Thad Jones & Mel Lewis' "Consummation" album and Maria Schneider's "Evanescence" album. (The article begins on page 40 of the magazine, April 2010 issue).
See more on this topic under "Musings", below.
Details, Trivia & Musings (continued). Jump to:
Lead Section Parts to Selected Charts
For study/practice purposes, we've included here several of the lead section parts to the band's charts.
Theme From "Chinatown"
1st Alto Sax: click here
1st Trumpet: click here
1st Trombone: click here
Slow Boat to China
1st Alto Sax: click here
1st Trumpet: click here
1st Trombone: click here
Sky Dive
1st Alto Sax: click here
1st Trumpet: click here
1st Trombone: click here
Recording Details
"A Beautiful Friendship" CD:
Our exciting new CD, "A Beautiful Friendship", features "front line" soloists Bill Watrous (trombone), Pete Christlieb (tenor sax) and Carl Saunders (trumpet)!
The first set of big band tracks was recorded at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California with Recording and Mixing Engineer Andy Waterman. The personnel was:
I. Joy Spring, Autumn Sojourn, The Gentle Rain, It Could Happen to You: Kim Richmond: alto sax, soprano sax; Rusty Higgins: alto sax; Dan Higgins: tenor sax; Rob Hardt: tenor sax; John Mitchell: baritone sax; Wayne Bergeron, Rick Baptist, Carl Saunders, Pete De Siena, Ron King: trumpet, flugelhorn; Alex Iles, Alan Kaplan, Dave Woodley: trombone; Rich Bullock: bass trombone; Christian Jacob: piano; Frank Browne: guitar; Trey Henry: bass; Ralph Razze: drums.
The second set of big band tracks was recorded at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California with Recording and Mixing Engineer Andy Waterman. The personnel was:
II. A Beautiful Friendship, Look to the Sky, Shaw 'Nuff: Kim Richmond: alto sax, soprano sax; Rusty Higgins: alto sax; Pete Christlieb: tenor sax; Dan Higgins: tenor sax; Joel Peskin: baritone sax; Wayne Bergeron, Rick Baptist, Carl Saunders, Larry Hall, Jeff Bunnell: trumpet, flugelhorn; Charlie Loper, Alan Kaplan, Linda Small: trombone; Craig Gosnell: bass trombone; Christian Jacob: piano; Frank Browne: guitar; Trey Henry: bass; Ralph Razze: drums.
The third and final set of big band tracks was recorded at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California, with Recording and Mixing Engineer Andy Waterman. The personnel was:
III. Waltz for Debby, Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry, Dear Mr. Florence, Look to the Sky, Emmanuel: Kim Richmond: alto sax, flute; Alex Budman: alto sax, alto flute; Billy Kerr: tenor sax, flute; Rob Hardt: tenor sax, clarinet; John Mitchell: baritone sax, bass clarinet, bassoon; Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Carl Saunders, Larry Hall, Jeff Bunnell: trumpet, flugelhorn; Charlie Loper, Alex Iles, Andy Martin: trombone; Craig Gosnell: bass trombone; Christian Jacob: piano; Trey Henry: bass; Ralph Razze: drums.
"Kindred Spirits" CD:
The big band tracks for "Kindred Spirits" were recorded in two sessions. The first session was at Bakery Digital Sound & Vision in North Hollywood, California on February 9, 2003. After our Recording and Mixing Engineer Andy Waterman changed studios, the second session was recorded at Entourage 5.1 in North Hollywood on August 25, 2003.
Bill, Pete and Christian then recorded their trio on "I'll Be Seeing You" on November 24, 2003. We mixed the sessions on December 27-29, 2004, January 17 and January 22, 2005, with subsequent tweaks on various days into 2005.
The personnel on the sessions were:
I. Lester Leaps In, No More Blues, My Foolish Heart, Theme From “Chinatown,” My Ship (recorded February 9, 2003): Kim Richmond: alto sax, soprano sax, flute; Rusty Higgins: alto sax, flute; Pete Christlieb: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Dan Higgins: tenor sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet; John Mitchell: baritone sax, bass clarinet, bassoon; Wayne Bergeron, Rick Baptist, Bobby Shew, John Thomas, Ron King: trumpet, flugelhorn; Charlie Loper, Alex Iles, Dave Woodley: trombone; Rich Bullock: bass trombone; Christian Jacob: piano; Frank Browne: guitar; Trey Henry: bass; Ralph Razze: drums. Add Amy Shulman, harp, and John Yoakum, English horn, on No More Blues and Theme From “Chinatown”; add John Yoakum, English horn, on My Foolish Heart; add Richie Gajate-Garcia, percussion, on No More Blues and My Foolish Heart; add Michito Sanchez, percussion, on Theme From “Chinatown.”
II. Girl Talk, Beautiful Love, That Old Feeling, Kindred Spirits, E.S.P., Danny Boy (recorded August 25, 2003): Kim Richmond: alto sax, soprano sax, alto flute; Rusty Higgins: alto sax, alto flute, bass flute; Pete Christlieb: tenor sax; Jeff Driskill: tenor sax; John Mitchell: baritone sax; Wayne Bergeron, Warren Luening, Dan Fornero, Mike McGuffey, Ron King: trumpet, flugelhorn; Charlie Loper, Alex Iles, Dave Woodley: trombone; Rich Bullock: bass trombone; Christian Jacob: piano; Frank Browne: guitar; Trey Henry: bass; Ralph Razze: drums. Add Amy Shulman, harp, on Danny Boy; add Michito Sanchez, percussion, on E.S.P.
III. I’ll Be Seeing You (recorded November 24, 2003): Christian Jacob: piano; Pete Christlieb: tenor sax; Bill Watrous: trombone.
"Living in the Moment" CD:
"Living in the Moment" was recorded in three sessions at Bakery Digital Sound & Vision, on January 14, February 19 and September 30, 2001. The personnel on the sessions were:
I. East of the Sun; Lush Life/Adagio for Strings; I’m a Fool to Want You; Little Linda; Time Remembered (recorded January 14, 2001):
Kim Richmond: alto sax, soprano sax, flute, alto flute
Rusty Higgins: alto sax, soprano sax, flute, alto flute
Pete Christlieb: tenor sax, flute
Terry Harrington: tenor sax, flute, clarinet
Bob Efford: baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute
Charlie Loper: trombone
Alex Iles: trombone
Dave Woodley: trombone
Steve Holtman: bass trombone
Wayne Bergeron: trumpet, flugelhorn
Rick Baptist: trumpet, flugelhorn
Frank Szabo: trumpet, flugelhorn
John Thomas: trumpet, flugelhorn
Ron King: trumpet, flugelhorn
Paul Chipello: piano
Frank Browne: guitar
Trey Henry: bass
Ralph Razze: drums
Michito Sanchez: percussion
Add Amy Shulman, harp, on I’m a Fool to Want You and Time Remembered. Add Alan Steinberger, keyboards, on Little Linda.
II. Song for Strayhorn; Slow Boat to China; ’Round Midnight (recorded February 19, 2001):
From East of the Sun personnel, substitute Rickey Woodard for Terry Harrington; Steve Ferguson for Steve Holtman. Add Amy Shulman, harp, and David Shamban, cello, on Song for Strayhorn.
III. For Liz and John; Sublimation; Colores del Fuego; Outside Looking In (recorded September 30, 2001):
From East of the Sun personnel, substitute Ray Reed for Terry Harrington; Bobby Burns for Ron King; Andy Martin for Alex Iles; Steve Ferguson for Steve Holtman; Christian Jacob for Paul Chipello. Substitute Gary Halopoff and Bill Armstrong for Wayne Bergeron and Rick Baptist on Outside Looking In. Add Carl Saunders and Steve Huffsteter on solo trumpets on Colores del Fuego.
"Perspectives" CD:
"Perspectives" was recorded in three sessions at Bakery Digital Sound & Vision, the first as a "demo" dating back to August 1997. Two sessions followed in January and February 1999. We mixed and mastered later that year, and the CD was released in early 2000.
Gary's Background
Gary grew up in Toledo, Ohio and has lived in Los Angeles since the age of 22. A devoted muliti-tasker, Gary studied at Oberlin College and UCLA School of Law and holds degrees from each. He is a practicing attorney in addition to his music activities and lives in Studio City, California.
Musings
As noted above, Gary is quoted in the April 2010 issue of Downbeat magazine, in an article entitled "My Favorite Big Band Album: 25 Essential Recordings." Gary and others were each asked by author Frank-John Hadley to write about their five favorite big band albums, and the article was compiled from this information.
Gary’s quotes about two of the five albums he picked -- Thad Jones & Mel Lewis' "Consummation" and Maria Schneider's "Evanescence" -- appear on pages 41 and 44 of the magazine.
Here is what Gary had to say about his other three album choices that were not selected for inclusion in the article:
FIVE FAVORITE BIG BAND ALBUMS. What a tough assignment! OK, assuming I can’t get you to count “Sketches of Spain” as a big band album (which it’s really not, though my favorite album of all time), here’s the list, in no particular order. The Top 15 would be a lot easier!
THE BILL HOLMAN BAND (JVC ALBUM FROM 1987)
Bill Holman wrote lots of terrific charts before this album and after this album, but for me this one captures an especially rich period of “grown-up” but playful writing where everything was in balance. Each chart has characteristic Holman moments of complex harmony, with those great linear passages that merge small band and big band conceptualization, with nothing too long or ponderous. Just great, extremely interesting writing.
Each chart is different from any other chart on the album, which always appeals to me. The choice of tunes is terrific, from original tunes with real depth and thought, to standards done in a fresh light. "St. Thomas" is a great example of following a creative mind as it goes wherever it wants to with a tune -- and back again flawlessly.
MAYNARD FERGUSON, LIVE AT JIMMY’S
Balance again. Kind of an odd word to use with Maynard, but there is real musicality in this collection, even in the high register playing (along with plenty of the high energy Maynard is known for). Some of the rock/funk styles are dated, but fewer than you might think, and you have to put them in the context of the prevailing styles at the time. And it’s just plain fun, with one of the best “I wish I were there” live album vibes I know of. A collection of varied charts that all cook and have musical interest, but never lose the groove.
For one human to be able to knock out Maynard’s parts on charts like "The Fox Hunt" and "MacArthur Park", one after the other, live, with such style and accuracy is just striking to me in this day of overdubs and multiple takes. It reminds you of just how unique Maynard at the top of his game was, both chops-wise and endurance-wise. The other soloists are no slouches, and the magic was flowing -- everything works.
Out of all the circulating charts on "MacArthur Park" at the time, I think it’s really Maynard’s chart that has evolved as the classic big band version. Though it’s dated, I still love listening to this instance of musical, lyrical high register playing. Live with no safety net.
When Maynard died, I heard the same sentiment from so many musicians of my generation -- that “the day Maynard came to my school” was a defining moment remembered years later. A really sweet, incredibly influential man, and the album captures him at his best.
BILL WATROUS AND THE MANHATTAN WILDLIFE REFUGE, THE TIGER OF SAN PEDRO
I felt a little funny including this one because I work a lot with Bill, but it truly was one of my “wear out the needle” vinyl albums at the time, and is a continuing influence. The reflective tunes in the middle of the album showcase some very creative writing and sensitive playing. But they always work, and never devolve into lethargy or boredom -- balance and knowing where the edge is again.
An interesting album. You had this tremendously energetic band that could still play with control, with a virtuosic solo voice as leader. But even though Bill’s tone and technique on trombone are (in my view) unparalleled, he doesn’t hog the solo space, so you look forward to hearing him come in again each time. The album has a couple of tracks with dated rhythm grooves, but even those tracks have very musical playing in the horn parts above the fray. Well-scored gems like "Quiet Lady" and especially "Passion at Three O’Clock" make you forget the period pieces, and who can’t like the energy of "Sweet Georgia Upside Down" and "The Tiger of San Pedro"?
Gary Urwin
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