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THAD JONES LEGACY
THE VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
NEW WORLD RECORDS CATALOG #: 80534-2

2001 AFIM WINNER

…WINNER OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR INDEPENDENT MUSIC (AFIM) 2000 INDIE AWARD FOR BEST BIG BAND JAZZ RECORDING…

 

THE VILLAGE VOICE – Top 10 CD’s of 1999 – Gary Giddons

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra…In making its case for Jones, it reclaims “Central Park North” from the banalities of funk, and goes ape on “Fingers”—jazz rep at its best.

 

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THE VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis

www.vanguardjazzorchestra.com
 
THE BAND

Trumpets: Earl Gardner (Lead), Joe Mosello, Glenn Drewes, Scott Wendholt

Trombones: John Mosca (Lead), Ed Neumeister, Douglas Purviance (bass trombone) , Earl McIntyre (bass trombone)

Reeds: Dick Oatts (Lead alto and soprano saxophones, flute), Billy Drewes (alto and soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet), Rich Perry (Tenor saxophone, flute), Ralph LaLama (Tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute), Gary Smulyan (Baritone saxophone)

Rhythm Section: Jim McNeely–piano, John Riley–drums, Dennis Irwin–Bass

 

THE MUSIC

Extra Credit - 8:53

Thad - 12:02

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Night - 7:41

Licety Split - 7:51

Absolution - 8:17

Sticks - 7:37

Reflection - 8:37

Mel - 8:46

 

All music composed and arranged by Jim McNeely

Wu Wei Music except In the Wee Small Hours Of The Night (composed by David Mann and Bob Hilliard - arranged by Jim McNeely)

 

PRODUCTION

Produced by Sixteen As One Music Inc., The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

Thomas Bellino ans Douglas Purviance, Executive Producers

Douglas Purviance and Stuart J. Allyn, Producers

 

Recorded April 7&8, 1997 and mixed June 19021 at Avatar Recording Studios, NYC

Stuart J. Allyn, Engineer

Aya Takemura and Scott Young, Assistant Engineers

 

Digital Audio Editing at Masque Sound and Recording

CD premastering: George Blood Professional Audio Services, Philadelphia, PA

Cover design: Bob Defrin Design, Inc. NYC

Photograph: Jeffrey Zaruba/Photonica

 

This recording was made possible through generous grants from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music and Francis Goelet

 

 

  

Billboard - November 20, 1999

…the true star of this stellar recording is the arrangements themselves, which feature individual solo statements displayed within a tersely structured environment.  The band swings with gleeful abandon, as energetic bop inspired solos dance within the more traditional big-band melodies.  Far from a nostalgia act, this 16-piece orchestra is the real deal, a living testament to the beauty and artistry of big-band music.

 

CD NOW – CMJ NEW MUSIC REVIEW

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is a Monday night tradition in New York City's venerated Village Vanguard. This current project explores the legacy of the late bop trumpeter Thad Jones, a co-founder of the Vanguard Orchestra…It's a very swinging and sophisticated large band, which is hard to find these days.

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES – December 5, 1999 – By: Don Heckman

…the music continues, as it has for more than three decades, primarily as an expression of Jones' remarkable composition and arranging skills, brilliantly performed by an ensemble of Manhattan's most adept jazz players. The works included--Jones' lovely waltz "Quiet Lady," his multi-sectional "Central Park North" and his technically demanding "Fingers" among them--have been recorded by earlier installments of the Jazz Orchestra. But these refreshingly alive new interpretations, with brilliant soloing from, among numerous others, tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, trombonist John Mosca and pianist Jim McNeely, powerfully underscore Jones' still not fully acknowledged compositional brilliance.

 
 

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