Search - Commanders Big Band :: Second Command

Finally released

Lawrence Miller | Pineville, NC United States | 12/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Time constraints today so I'll be brief.



In the '50s I sold records through high school and college, in a record store on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. I discovered lots of music there. One discovery was The Commanders as created and mostly arranged by Tutti Camarata, then led by Eddie (or Eddy) Grady. Camarata/Commanders: I see a sonic connection.



I loved the unexpected tracks that they provided, as did Billy May and Sauter-Finegan with their own orchestras. Some swung, some were novelties, some were simply experiments in big band arranging. No two records were precisely the same.



During that time I also discovered Beethoven and Bartok, The Four Aces, and Fats Waller. Not to mention Riddle and Sinatra.



I loved, especially, The Commanders' four-trombone section, which, and unusually, led the winds. Grady's off-the-beat drumming and unexpected accents were also a plus.



For years I waited for The Commanders to be released and now they are, here in two albums, and a third 2-CD set (mostly dupes) is also on the way.



Great for listening. Great for dancing."