BOB MINTZER & WDR BIG BAND COLOGNE - Soundscapes
Jazzline D77082
Bob Mintzer (tenor sax, EWI); Billy Test (piano); Paul Shigihara (guitar); Stefan Rey (acoustic and electric bass); Hans Dekker (drums); Johan Hörlen (alto sax, woodwinds); Karolina Strassmayer (alto sax, woodwinds); Olivier Peters (tenor sax, woodwinds); Paul Heller (tenor sax, woodwinds); Jens Neufang (baritone sax, woodwinds); Wim Both (trumpet); Rob Bruynen (trumpet); Andy Harderer (trumpet); Ruud Breuls (trumpet); Ludwig Nub (trombone); Raphael Klemm (trombone); Andy Hunter (trombone); Mattis Cederberg (bass trombone); Marcio Doctor (guest percussion)
Recorded WDR Studio 4, Cologne, Germany 10-19 October 2019
Bob Mintzer is a busy man who wears many hats. A long-time member of Yellowjackets; principal conductor of the WDR Big Band Cologne since 2016; an arranger who has written more than 500 big band arrangements; a composer of countless tunes; a session musician who has played on more than a 1000 recordings, and a sideman to numerous artists including Buddy Rich, Jaco Pastorius, Thad Jones-John Lewis Orchestra, Miroslav Vitous and Randy Brecker. In November 2020, we reviewed the album Yellowjackets XL, which saw the group and the WDR Big Band combining forces, with Mintzer conducting, arranging and playing.
For this project, Mintzer explains that was no particular theme or message, “Other than to highlight the talents of the band and use composition to create soundscapes of various color, texture and sparkle.” On this album, Mintzer plays tenor sax and Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), an amalgam of a woodwind instrument and electronics that creates an array of new sounds.
The album is well-packaged, with a gatefold digipak sleeve and a 12-page colour booklet that includes background notes from Mintzer and liner notes from music writer Bill Milkowski. Both sets of notes are very informative.
The album starts in an upbeat fashion with ‘A Reprieve,’ with its Latin feel and strong groove. The track has punchy horn lines, which cross-cross each other; numerous sounds that rise and fall, and an array of melodies that combine or collide, but never clash. In fact, this tune showcases Mintzer’s superb arrangement skills – there’s a lot happening within the music, but the sound never gets cluttered or over-busy. Weaving in and out of the soundscape is Mintzer on EWI. ‘The Conversation’ features guest percussionist Marcio Doctor [who isn’t listed in the musician line-up, but is mentioned in Milkowski’s notes]. Originally from Argentina and now living in Germany, Doctor has played with many artists including, Maria Schneider, Al Jarreau, Michael Gibbs, Bill Frisell, Bobby McFerrin and Pat Metheny.
‘The Conversation,’ reflects Mintzer’s love of cross-rhythms and polyrhythms, and the composer describes the tune as a combination of Afro-Cuba, funk and African rhythms. A heavy percussive intro leads into a fizzing number that features Billy Test playing a lively piano solo. ‘Stay Up’ is a swinging number with a walking bass line and solos from Mintzer on tenor and Johan Hörlen on alto sax. ‘Montuno’ has a heavy Latin percussive groove, with Mintzer playing EWI and Karolina Strassmayer soloing at length on alto sax. The brilliantly titled ‘Whack’ is a creeping, slow-groove number with a thumping bass line by Stefan Rey, Mintzer’s EWI and Paul Heller blowing hard on tenor sax. ‘Canyon Winds’ is a vibrant, Latin-tinged tune with a driving rhythm and cross-crossing horns lines, while ‘Herky Jerky (another great title!) is a sparkling number based on ‘I Got Rhythm.’ The only ballad on the album is the near-ten-minute ‘New Look,’ which has a bossa-nova feel and Mintzer stretching out on tenor sax. ‘One Music’ is a swinging arrangement of a tune Mintzer recorded thirty years ago with a small group. This Big Band version has more fizz and energy than the original.
The album closer is another swinger, ‘VM’, which is a tribute to the American arranger, conductor and composer Vince Mendoza – his wide and varied career cv includes the WDR Big Band and Elvis Costello. Mintzer says the song was inspired by Mendoza’s writing and an old Mintzer composition, ‘Mr Fonebone.’ Talking about this album, Minzter says, “My mission in creating the music here was to make a warm, beautiful sound, with the occasional smattering of complexity amongst singable melodies, interlocking rhythmical counterpoint and an amalgam of grooves from around the world.” To quote that famous (infamous?) phrase from a certain US President: Mission Accomplished.
Reviewed by George Cole
Jazzline D77082
Bob Mintzer (tenor sax, EWI); Billy Test (piano); Paul Shigihara (guitar); Stefan Rey (acoustic and electric bass); Hans Dekker (drums); Johan Hörlen (alto sax, woodwinds); Karolina Strassmayer (alto sax, woodwinds); Olivier Peters (tenor sax, woodwinds); Paul Heller (tenor sax, woodwinds); Jens Neufang (baritone sax, woodwinds); Wim Both (trumpet); Rob Bruynen (trumpet); Andy Harderer (trumpet); Ruud Breuls (trumpet); Ludwig Nub (trombone); Raphael Klemm (trombone); Andy Hunter (trombone); Mattis Cederberg (bass trombone); Marcio Doctor (guest percussion)
Recorded WDR Studio 4, Cologne, Germany 10-19 October 2019
Bob Mintzer is a busy man who wears many hats. A long-time member of Yellowjackets; principal conductor of the WDR Big Band Cologne since 2016; an arranger who has written more than 500 big band arrangements; a composer of countless tunes; a session musician who has played on more than a 1000 recordings, and a sideman to numerous artists including Buddy Rich, Jaco Pastorius, Thad Jones-John Lewis Orchestra, Miroslav Vitous and Randy Brecker. In November 2020, we reviewed the album Yellowjackets XL, which saw the group and the WDR Big Band combining forces, with Mintzer conducting, arranging and playing.
For this project, Mintzer explains that was no particular theme or message, “Other than to highlight the talents of the band and use composition to create soundscapes of various color, texture and sparkle.” On this album, Mintzer plays tenor sax and Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), an amalgam of a woodwind instrument and electronics that creates an array of new sounds.
The album is well-packaged, with a gatefold digipak sleeve and a 12-page colour booklet that includes background notes from Mintzer and liner notes from music writer Bill Milkowski. Both sets of notes are very informative.
The album starts in an upbeat fashion with ‘A Reprieve,’ with its Latin feel and strong groove. The track has punchy horn lines, which cross-cross each other; numerous sounds that rise and fall, and an array of melodies that combine or collide, but never clash. In fact, this tune showcases Mintzer’s superb arrangement skills – there’s a lot happening within the music, but the sound never gets cluttered or over-busy. Weaving in and out of the soundscape is Mintzer on EWI. ‘The Conversation’ features guest percussionist Marcio Doctor [who isn’t listed in the musician line-up, but is mentioned in Milkowski’s notes]. Originally from Argentina and now living in Germany, Doctor has played with many artists including, Maria Schneider, Al Jarreau, Michael Gibbs, Bill Frisell, Bobby McFerrin and Pat Metheny.
‘The Conversation,’ reflects Mintzer’s love of cross-rhythms and polyrhythms, and the composer describes the tune as a combination of Afro-Cuba, funk and African rhythms. A heavy percussive intro leads into a fizzing number that features Billy Test playing a lively piano solo. ‘Stay Up’ is a swinging number with a walking bass line and solos from Mintzer on tenor and Johan Hörlen on alto sax. ‘Montuno’ has a heavy Latin percussive groove, with Mintzer playing EWI and Karolina Strassmayer soloing at length on alto sax. The brilliantly titled ‘Whack’ is a creeping, slow-groove number with a thumping bass line by Stefan Rey, Mintzer’s EWI and Paul Heller blowing hard on tenor sax. ‘Canyon Winds’ is a vibrant, Latin-tinged tune with a driving rhythm and cross-crossing horns lines, while ‘Herky Jerky (another great title!) is a sparkling number based on ‘I Got Rhythm.’ The only ballad on the album is the near-ten-minute ‘New Look,’ which has a bossa-nova feel and Mintzer stretching out on tenor sax. ‘One Music’ is a swinging arrangement of a tune Mintzer recorded thirty years ago with a small group. This Big Band version has more fizz and energy than the original.
The album closer is another swinger, ‘VM’, which is a tribute to the American arranger, conductor and composer Vince Mendoza – his wide and varied career cv includes the WDR Big Band and Elvis Costello. Mintzer says the song was inspired by Mendoza’s writing and an old Mintzer composition, ‘Mr Fonebone.’ Talking about this album, Minzter says, “My mission in creating the music here was to make a warm, beautiful sound, with the occasional smattering of complexity amongst singable melodies, interlocking rhythmical counterpoint and an amalgam of grooves from around the world.” To quote that famous (infamous?) phrase from a certain US President: Mission Accomplished.
Reviewed by George Cole
