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Written by Tom Surowicz
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Saturday, 22 May 2004 |
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A sleek, well-schooled, engaging full-sized jazz ensemble, that's really got a lot going on at the low end of the timbral spectrum. Led by a trombonist, and featuring plenty more trombones and bass trombones, plus a standout baritone sax player, this funky and modern big band can sound like a bunch of happy elephants on parade. Bann and his troops have several great original numbers in the book, plus some inspired and atypical arrangements of old warhorses -- e.g., "My Favorite Things," which comes off nothing like the version from "The Sound of Music," and also sounds nothing like the John Coltrane modal period classic small group rendition. Toss in the accomplished vocal stylings of Steve Faison, who nails the old classic, "Angel Eyes," and it's no wonder these guys have a CD out on Sea Breeze Records -- a top national label servicing big band enthusiasts. Once-a-month favorites at O'Gara's in St. Paul, the Stan Bann Big Band can really wail the blues, or get fashionably funky.
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Friday, 21 November 2008
