Top West Coast Sound
Tad Ulrich | Los Angeles, CA United States | 10/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's great to see this two album set released again. It was reissued originally in 1989 by Discovery Records as MOANIN', MARTY PAICH BIG BAND. This new reissue is by Lone Hill Jazz, the same good folks who have just given us the complete MANNY ALBAM AND THE JAZZ GREATS OF OUR TIME, as well.
This two record set features some of the best Marty Paich big band scoring ever and amazingly has been overlooked and ignored by many folks who should know otherwise. This is a varied and sublimely swinging set with uptemp romps like IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME to ballads like the wonderfully moody LAZY AFTERNOON.
This set is worth the price of admission if just for Art Pepper's stunning interpretation of VIOLETS FOR YOUR FURS alone. I am a big Pepper fan and I have not heard him play better than this. Beautifully recorded, his tone, use of dynamics and emotional warmth are simply unparalleled here. In fact this two record sit is almost as much Pepper's as it is Paich's. Paich's admiration for Pepper is well known and Art gets a lot of blowing room.
But there are others as well, not the least of which is some great bass playing by the underrecorded Scott LaFaro. Whether it's the engineering or Scott's playing, he doesn't provide much of a bottom for the band, but his playing is nonetheless simply amazing. The player personnel overall is a virtual who's who of top west coast musicians, much the same crew Paich always used. Paich's scoring provides ample room for other great soloists like PERKINS, SHELDON and FELDMAN to shine as well.
SO if you dig where I'm coming from with this review, you will not want to miss this set. Simply outstanding. Hey, second chances don't come around every day!
"
West Coast Jazz at its Best
D. Skinner | San Francisco | 11/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a thrill to find this album back again complete with the chorus girl on the cover. I first bought this album back in 1959 when it was an LP record. I played it so much I wore out the groves. So to find this well remastered CD is like finding gold in California. Marty Paich is a genuis--his arrangements are phenomenal. And the musicians he got to play them were the cream of the crop of LA Jazz musicians. Art Pepper is particulalry outstanding--his solo on "I've never been in love before" will blow you away. Jimmy Giuffre, Bill Perkins, Bob Enevoldsen, Victor Feldman, Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, Jack Sheldon, Russ Freeman--well you get the picture--just the best. This album is one of the best jazz albums ever produced. Period."
Marty Paich At His Best
Joe F. Lowe | Lake San Marcos, CA United States | 02/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful CD that is highly recommended to those wanting classic West Coast Jazz Big Bands in their library. I happen to collect West Coast Jazz fron the 50's and this is right at the top of the list..... none better. Marty Paich was one of the top 2 or 3 arrangers of big bands during the period and the musicians are all hall of fame/world class players across the board!
What an album! It is truly a masterpiece that will earn the highest marks from anyone who knows the recordings made during this period. And, the audio is excellent. A MUST OWN album!!"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1