专辑简介

The Big Band Sound is a strong musical force on the American scene, sustained by musicians of creative ingenuity, versatility and ability to absorb successfully the musical styles of the day. On this album, the Elliot Lawrence Orchestra demonstrates its lasting strength by skillfully blending the jazz idiom with every rhythmic sound, from ballad and bounce to the cha cha and merengue. These ten selections highlight Elliot’s credo that “one of the most important things about the big band sounds is that they have to swing.” And swing they do, dispersing a happy feeling that stems from the youthful exuberance of their leader. He believes that “some of our finest talents in America, both serious and popular, are those who have a combined knowledge of jazz and classical compositions.” He admires Bartók and Stravinsky, but he also respects Stan Kenton, Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Giuffre. His favorite pianists are Earl Hines, Thelonious Monk and Erroll Garner. Elliot incorporates his musical theories into his arrangements and is constantly striving and experimenting with new sounds and rhythms, for a band’s popularity often depends on the arranging scope. Six of the ten numbers are his own arrangements; the remaining four numbers in this session bear the arranging finesse of renowned jazz man Al Cohn, who also doubles on tenor sax. The rest of the sidemen display the same brand of youthful verve that’s inherent in the “happy sound” of the music. You’ll hear Gene Quill, sometimes strident, sometimes smooth, but always forceful and intriguing on alto, and the velvet tones of Danny Riccardo, a vocal regular with The Elliot Lawrence Orchestra, illuminating the two ballad entries. The rest of the featured sidemen include: Sam Marowitz, Morty Lewis and Sol Schlinger, saxes; Bernie Glow, Don Stratton, Stan Fishelson and Burt Collins, trumpets; Sol Gubin, drums; Russ Saunders, bass; and Bill Elton, Eddie Bert and Chauncey Welsch, trombones.