Search - Grp All Stars :: All Star Big Band

Words Can't Describe

jedimasterhoss | Springfield, VA | 01/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! I first heard this album ten years ago while a fledgling jazz musician in high school. This album went on to become the best of my collection - I even spun it so many times in my player that I had to buy another copy of it. What makes this album so amazing is not neccessarily the setlist, but the musicians! GRP assembled some of their great label performers and got them together for this project (with a few more to follow). All of the musicians are incredible, but you'll notice some standout performances from Eric Marienthal (Alto Sax), Arturo Sandoval (Trumpet), Randy Brecker (Trumpet), and Bob Mintzer (Tenor Sax). I read somewhere that music is the closest thing to magic there is, and after listening to this album, you'll see why."Airegin" sets the stage nicely, followed by a perfect rendition of Coltrane's "Blue Train", with the best 24 bar blues solo I've ever heard from Bob Mintzer on Tenor Sax. "Donna Lee" features some blistering solo work by Nelson Rangell, Gary Burton, and Eddie Daniels. "Maiden Voyage" is easy and laid back, leading right up to one of the true gems of this album, "Sister Sadie", a crowd-pleaser if ever there was one. Marienthal's amazing Sax work still knocks me back every time I hear it! Up next is "The Sidewinder", and this is an excellent arrangement that Randy Brecker lights up on Trumpet. The next three tunes take it down a notch - "Seven Steps to Heaven" features a great (and rare)Marienthal Tenor Sax solo, and "I Remember Clifford" stands out as the album's premeire ballad. Sandoval is inhumanly good as always, and leads right up to an amazing climax! "Footprints" follows, featuring some great jazz guitar by Lee Ritenour. The last great showstopper of the album is next - Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca". Across the board amazing performances by the ensemble, featuring Dave Valentin (Flute), killer Piano by the Killer Kenny Kirkland, and the ultimate Trumpet battle royale by Sandoval and Brecker! The album is rounded out with more great work on Sax by Ernie Watts on " 'Round Midnight", and closes with a smooth version of Chick Corea's "Spain".I have a very diverse music collection, and I'm proud to seat this album up at the top with other masterpieces of rock, jazz and classical music. I challenge you to listen to this CD and try- just try not to enjoy it. I dare you!"

Strong quartet music but extremely weak on big band sound

jason_francisco | San Francisco | 11/22/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"first of all, i write this with great respect to other reviewers before me. i listened to this CD thoroughly and carefully over five times and i still failed to appreciate the music. reasons:



1. irrespective of the great names from the jazz scene, this CD failed to bring these world class musicians to create the big band sound. i would say, the music is not "tight" as in big band context. this is the worst failing of this CD. you hear mostly ensemble music in quartet or quintet format. the horn section was relegated to the background, almost like an afterthought to the whole musical arrangement. my suspicion, the "band" was not really in the studio together and the sound was engineered from different recording sessions when each segment of the band were re-compiled. i heard the disconnect between the soloist and the rest of horn section or the quartet discconnected from the horn section. the best example of this disconnect is the track "Spain" as you can hear the horn section was trying to play catch up with the quartet (keyboard, bass, rym. guitar and drums.

2. whereas Lee Ritenour, Eddie Daniels had their share of opportunity to strut their improvisation, Tom Scott, Eric Marienthal (in fact all the cats with superb horn skills) did not even have a moment to shine. may be i am old school, when i thought about big band, i thought about the horn section, in particular tenor sax, trumpet or trombone and the entire horn section together creating the "chops". however, this CD featured guitar, keyboards (piano) and flute in quintet setting. the end result is at best, unfulflling.



i encourage you to give this CD a careful listen and compare this with Basie Meets Duke CD (my all time favorite big band CD) or "It Might as well be Swing" by Count Basie Big Band with Sinatra on vocal. check this CD out, do some comparative listening and tell me if i am way off or right on. thanks."

Love the GRP ALLSTARS Since 1980-81

Kevin Russell | California | 03/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love that album, it says alot just in the music, take the time to relax and relieve your mind, take all troubles away. I am also looking for the Album/Cd from the early years of the GRP allstars, I use to have the album GRP ALLSTARS Live in Japan, can anyone help me from the early years 1978-81. Thank you sure aprreicate the help anyone......Email me at Kruss84914@aol.com"