ONE MORE TIME

This CD was a most challenging recording project for the Masters Of Music. It started with transcriptions of the big band hits, which became arrangements of those originals for four horns. The sound quickly became that of a big band due to the vast knowledge and experience of these gifted musicians. The arrangements, however, made this task quite difficult. The entire focus was on the sound of the finished product, so as lead lines moved from trumpet to clarinet to trombone, each of the lower voices changed every time as well. This meant that the lead trumpet player suddenly became the second alto sax, and the trombone would quickly change from the second trumpet to the tenor sax part. Couple that with quick changes from saxophones to clarinets and back, as well as rapid mute changes in the brass, plentiful solos and lots of blowing and you get a pretty clear picture of the process. Also, in the transcriptions of the original recordings the original solos of Benny Goodman, Jack Jenny, Billy Butterfield, Artie Shaw and all are written out as originally performed. It is the singular musician who can capture the style, technique and emotion of the original soloists. In this case, you have musicians who have actually mastered those original solos through the years. Then they weave their own thoughts and improvisation in and out of parts of the original solos, thereby paying tribute to the legends of jazz while still making the solos their own. The results speak for themselves. This was an inspiring collaboration and I am privileged to have worked with such great musicians. Additional thanks go to Judie Cochill for her magnificent storytelling in song, and Rachelle and the late Larry Nozero for providing the music to make this recording possible. Special thanks go to my beautiful wife Susan Greene, without whose support and friendship this project never could have happened. We hope you enjoy the Masters Of Music Big Band (minus 9) tribute to the great big band era.

FEATURED ARRANGERS
Walt Stuart was a lead trumpeter and high note specialist. He performed with Perez Prado and was featured prominently with Xavier Cugat. His arranging became widely recognized while playing lead trumpet and serving as chief arranger for Buddy Morrow’s Orchestra. He created Morrow’s milestone album “Golden Trombone” and cemented his reputation as a brilliant arranger. His arrangements have been performed by touring bands the world over, including the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, and Warren Covington. A lot of his writing work went into transcriptions of great big band literature. The arrangements for this disc started as full big band transcriptions and were rearranged as four horn charts. The writing is thoughtful and the sound of the band is very rich. Just one warning, be extremely careful as listeners, or you might just think you are listening to one of the original big band recordings.

Russ Miller is on the jazz studies faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is well known as a saxophonist and woodwind soloist, and is constantly gaining greater acclaim for his writing and arranging skills. He has written and arranged for a number of groups and singers, ranging from big band with choir, to blues singers, big bands, rock bands and more. For this project he was asked to write a couple of new arrangements of Frank Sinatra hits for Judie Cochill. The task was to offer the same “big band” concept as Walt Stuart, while maintaining his own identity as an arranger. You will hear from these two charts that Russ was more than equal to the task. Although these arrangements are different in style from Walt Stuart’s, they are equally as satisfying.

Arrangements by Walt Stuart – April In Paris, Let’s Dance, Dorsey Tribute, Stardust, Four Brothers, Moonlight Serenade, Begin The Beguine, Dorsey Medley, String Of Pearls, Don’t Be That Way.

Arrangements by Russ Miller – Just The Way You Look Tonight, Summer Wind.

Arrangement by Dave Wolpe – How About You