The Very Big Carla Bley Band (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Jazz  »  Avant-Garde/Downtown
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: July 4, 2000
• Label: ECM/WATT
• UPC: 042284794220
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106667920
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #33850 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #2423 in Jazz (See Top 100 Jazz Bestsellers)
• #34 in Avant-Garde/Downtown (See Top 100 Avant-Garde/Downtown Bestsellers)

Personnel: Carla Bley (piano); Andy Sheppard (soprano & tenor saxophones); Roger Janotta (soprano saxophone, oboe, flute, clarinet); Wolfgang Pusching (alto saxophone, flute); Pete Hurt (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Pablo Calogero (baritone saxophone); Lew Soloff, Claude Deppa, Guy Barker (trumpet); Gary Valente, Richard Edwards, Fayyaz Virji (trombone); Ashley Slater (bass trombone); Karen Mantler (organ); Steve Swallow (bass); Victor Lewis (drums); Don Alias (percussion).

Recorded at Bauer Studios, Ludwigsburg, Germnay on October 29 & 30, 1990.

The "very big" refers to the fact that this is an eighteen-piece ensemble (by comparison, her Big Band, as heard on GOES TO CHURCH, is only seventeen members strong). In addition to the core ensemble of drummer Victor Lewis, percussionist Don Alias, bass player Steve Swallow, daughter Karen Mantler on organ, and Bley on piano, there's also a fine array of thirteen horn players. Over the years Bley has worked regularly with some of the soloists, including trombonist Gary Valente, saxophonist Andy Sheppard and trumpet player Lew Soloff. As always, her writing is full of warm humor, inventive textural combinations and subtle shifts of mood.

The breadth among these five pieces (as well as within single compositions) is dazzling. The folkish gospel of "Who Will Rescue You" is a wonderful springboard for some absolutely testifying solos. "Lo Ultimo," with its European lilt, feels like the flickering images of a foreign film. This album is a fine example of new work being done for big bands. It's of a tradition, but beholden to none.

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