JIM WALLER BIG BAND - Bucket List
Self- produced CD
Big Band including: Jim Waller (ts, org); Chris Villanueva (pno); Jaime Parker (tb); Jaqueline Sotelo (v); Will Kennedy (d)
2020 No dates listed.
The bucket list here consists of seven originals by Waller, a few hardy standards, an R&B tear up and a new arrangement by the leader of Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue. This last is a bold and largely successful attempt to produce a new and fresh version of a classic composition. Waller himself takes a long tenor sax solo and the writing of this new chart on an old favourite is bold and bright. Brightness is another worthy feature of this entire disc; the orchestra play with a crisp openness of expression that suggests everybody in the band enjoyed playing every selection. The reeds and brass play briskly in unison and the solos slip naturally out. Waller allows himself the most solo space on tenor and soprano except on Funksuite 109 where he sits at the organ to solo as the band funks it up around him.
Jim Waller is a veteran musician who has played in combos of various size and persuasion since the 1960s. This is his first outing as a leader and soloist in his own big band. The inclusion of electric bass and rock drums was no doubt an attempt to make the disc more commercial and appeal to a wider range of people. Honky Tonk is a fairly wild R&B selection along with Funksuite. Some of the best tracks are those featuring vocalist Jacqueline Sotelo who has a clear, jazz- oriented voice and shines on pieces such as Georgia, the Hoagy Carmichael standard and Johnny Mercer’s Goody Goody. Jim Waller is a sturdy soloist in the hard bop style although he could have been a bit more generous with solo space to the other horns. The rhythm section drives solidly although a lighter swing could have been achieved with acoustic bass and a more straight -ahead drummer. Pianist Chris Villanueva gets a good solo in on Samba For Suzell although he has no other opportunities.
This is a good big band album that swings along merrily, has a nice variety of material and should appeal to a wide number of jazz enthusiasts. And that, I think, is just what Mr. Waller had in mind.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Self- produced CD
Big Band including: Jim Waller (ts, org); Chris Villanueva (pno); Jaime Parker (tb); Jaqueline Sotelo (v); Will Kennedy (d)
2020 No dates listed.
The bucket list here consists of seven originals by Waller, a few hardy standards, an R&B tear up and a new arrangement by the leader of Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue. This last is a bold and largely successful attempt to produce a new and fresh version of a classic composition. Waller himself takes a long tenor sax solo and the writing of this new chart on an old favourite is bold and bright. Brightness is another worthy feature of this entire disc; the orchestra play with a crisp openness of expression that suggests everybody in the band enjoyed playing every selection. The reeds and brass play briskly in unison and the solos slip naturally out. Waller allows himself the most solo space on tenor and soprano except on Funksuite 109 where he sits at the organ to solo as the band funks it up around him.
Jim Waller is a veteran musician who has played in combos of various size and persuasion since the 1960s. This is his first outing as a leader and soloist in his own big band. The inclusion of electric bass and rock drums was no doubt an attempt to make the disc more commercial and appeal to a wider range of people. Honky Tonk is a fairly wild R&B selection along with Funksuite. Some of the best tracks are those featuring vocalist Jacqueline Sotelo who has a clear, jazz- oriented voice and shines on pieces such as Georgia, the Hoagy Carmichael standard and Johnny Mercer’s Goody Goody. Jim Waller is a sturdy soloist in the hard bop style although he could have been a bit more generous with solo space to the other horns. The rhythm section drives solidly although a lighter swing could have been achieved with acoustic bass and a more straight -ahead drummer. Pianist Chris Villanueva gets a good solo in on Samba For Suzell although he has no other opportunities.
This is a good big band album that swings along merrily, has a nice variety of material and should appeal to a wide number of jazz enthusiasts. And that, I think, is just what Mr. Waller had in mind.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
