LARRY SONN AND HIS ALL STAR BAND - The Sound Of Larry Sonn And His All Star Band
Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 877
Various aggregations of the band featuring Larry Sonn (tpt) Jimmy Nottingham (tpt) Bernie Glow (tpt) Charlie Shavers (tpt) Urbie Green (trom) Frank Rehak (trom) Billy Byers (trom) Phil Woods (alt) Hal McCusak (alt) Sam Marowitz (alt) Dick Hafer (ten) Al Cohn (ten) Georgie Auld (ten) Charlie O'Kane (bar) Barry Gailbraith (gtr) Nat Pierce (pno) Milt Hinton (bs) Osie Johnson (drs) plus others including DJ Al "Jazzbo" Collins and close harmony group The Key Men
This is a re-issue double CD package of 55 tracks from 4 original LP's covering the period 1955 to 1958. All the tracks from "The Sound Of Sonn"," It's Sonn Again", A Smooth One" and "Jazz Band Having A Ball" are here.
US trumpet man Larry Sonn who was born in 1919 spent his early life in the states , playing in his late teens and twenties with the big bands of Charlie Barnet, Hal McIntyre and others before emigrating to Mexico in 1944. He stayed for nine years, led a moderately successful band with local musicians which held a residency at the lavish nightclub within The Hotel Reforma, Mexico City before returning north of the border. Soon after he was able to recruit top jazz and studio players alongside arrangers including Bob Brookmeyer and Nat Pierce plus his old friend NBC's host, Al Collins.
Al, or "Jazzbo" as he was more commonly known was soon able to use his influence and secure Larry's band a one hour Saturday night spot on the station's "Monitor" programme. Larry's old friend was hilarious, making many (perhaps scripted) gaffs on the broadcasts but with a national popularity rivaled only by the infamous "Symphony Sid" Torin. The music and arrangements however were of the highest standard, and maintained throughout these recordings. The general sound of the band is bright and brassy at times but generally lies stylistically somewhere between Basie and early Kenton. The solo's are brief and generally are taken up by Jimmy Nottingham on trumpet (the leader is heard hardly at all) Urbie Green from the trombones alongside Al Cohn and Phil Woods from the reeds. The rhythm section is solid with Nat Pierce emerging from the mix from time to time. The play list includes old favourites like "After Youv'e Gone", "King Porter Stomp", " Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Darn That Dream". The "Key Men " vocal group add variety with classics such as Burton Lane and Frank Loesser's "I Hear Music" plus the Hal Warren / Al Jubin song"Lulu's Back In Town".
Overall this release provides the listener with a nostalgic and entertaining two hours of fifties big band swing, is well recorded and comes packaged with an informative 28 page booklet.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 877
Various aggregations of the band featuring Larry Sonn (tpt) Jimmy Nottingham (tpt) Bernie Glow (tpt) Charlie Shavers (tpt) Urbie Green (trom) Frank Rehak (trom) Billy Byers (trom) Phil Woods (alt) Hal McCusak (alt) Sam Marowitz (alt) Dick Hafer (ten) Al Cohn (ten) Georgie Auld (ten) Charlie O'Kane (bar) Barry Gailbraith (gtr) Nat Pierce (pno) Milt Hinton (bs) Osie Johnson (drs) plus others including DJ Al "Jazzbo" Collins and close harmony group The Key Men
This is a re-issue double CD package of 55 tracks from 4 original LP's covering the period 1955 to 1958. All the tracks from "The Sound Of Sonn"," It's Sonn Again", A Smooth One" and "Jazz Band Having A Ball" are here.
US trumpet man Larry Sonn who was born in 1919 spent his early life in the states , playing in his late teens and twenties with the big bands of Charlie Barnet, Hal McIntyre and others before emigrating to Mexico in 1944. He stayed for nine years, led a moderately successful band with local musicians which held a residency at the lavish nightclub within The Hotel Reforma, Mexico City before returning north of the border. Soon after he was able to recruit top jazz and studio players alongside arrangers including Bob Brookmeyer and Nat Pierce plus his old friend NBC's host, Al Collins.
Al, or "Jazzbo" as he was more commonly known was soon able to use his influence and secure Larry's band a one hour Saturday night spot on the station's "Monitor" programme. Larry's old friend was hilarious, making many (perhaps scripted) gaffs on the broadcasts but with a national popularity rivaled only by the infamous "Symphony Sid" Torin. The music and arrangements however were of the highest standard, and maintained throughout these recordings. The general sound of the band is bright and brassy at times but generally lies stylistically somewhere between Basie and early Kenton. The solo's are brief and generally are taken up by Jimmy Nottingham on trumpet (the leader is heard hardly at all) Urbie Green from the trombones alongside Al Cohn and Phil Woods from the reeds. The rhythm section is solid with Nat Pierce emerging from the mix from time to time. The play list includes old favourites like "After Youv'e Gone", "King Porter Stomp", " Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Darn That Dream". The "Key Men " vocal group add variety with classics such as Burton Lane and Frank Loesser's "I Hear Music" plus the Hal Warren / Al Jubin song"Lulu's Back In Town".
Overall this release provides the listener with a nostalgic and entertaining two hours of fifties big band swing, is well recorded and comes packaged with an informative 28 page booklet.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
