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Ian Charleton Big Band: A Fresh Perspective

By Jack Bowers
March 15, 2021
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Ian Charleton Big Band: A Fresh Perspective

After earning a master's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, saxophonist

Ian Charleton

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ian Charleton thought it might be a good idea to join a service band for a short time. He wound up in the Navy and, as of 2020, had spent two decades leading, playing in, touring the world and writing for various Navy bands. Then he thought it might be a good idea to release a big-band album under his own name. Like that other good idea, Charleton's notion proved to be more than good—it was nothing short of inspired. A Fresh Perspective, recorded with proper social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, swings heartily from the start, enhanced by Charleton's impressive charts and ably performed by an ensemble whose talents are outstanding and everywhere apparent.

The indomitable spirit of the legendary

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie band surfaces immediately on "1 West 67th Street," an exhilarating flag-waver ushered in by pianist

Bart Kuebler

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bart Kuebler and bassist

Ryan Persaud

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Persaud, kicked into high gear by the ensemble and amplified by

John Lloyd

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lloyd's nimble trombone solo. That is the first of three Charleton compositions that start the ball rolling. Kuebler's expressive piano brightens the mellow, easy-going "Sunday Morning," leading to ardent solos by Persaud and

Kerry Moffit

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Kerry Moffit on flugelhorn who shares the spotlight with soprano saxophonist

Richard Garcia

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Garcia and drummer

Bob Habib

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Habib on the waltz-like "Fresh Perspective," another of Charleton's superlative charts. A second Charleton, vocalist Emily, makes her first appearance on Rodgers and Hart's delightfully wicked "Everything I've Got (Belongs to You)," her second on a slow-cooked version of Irving Berlin's venerable "Blue Skies."

Moffit's burnished flugelhorn is showcased on Hoagy Carmichael's enduring ballad, "Stardust," his trumpet with Garcia's alto sax on pianist

Stefan Karlsson

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Stefan Karlsson's rhythmic powerhouse, "El Otono." Charleton arranged that number, as he did everything else on the album, including an unusually measured reading of Vincent Youmans' "Tea for Two" (solos by Kuebler and Moffit) and a decidedly upbeat take on the wistful serenade, "When Sunny Gets Blue," on which Lloyd solos again, this time with tenor saxophonist

Keith Philbrick

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Philbrick. Charleton and Co. ring down the curtain with another of his endearing compositions, "Party on Park," whose zestful rhythms encompass radiant solos by Kuebler, Persaud, baritone saxophonist

David Fatek

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">David Fatek and guitarist

Wes Wagner

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Wagner.

Once the framework has been removed and all is said and done, there should only be one irrevocable litmus test for any big band: it has to swing. Charleton's band passes that test with room to spare, thanks in large measure to his superlative charts. And if Charleton should have another good idea like this one, let us hope he safeguards it on a disc and shares it with the rest of us.

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Track Listing

West 67th Street; Sunday Morning; A Fresh Perspective; Everything I��ve Got; Stardust; El Otono; Blue Skies; Tea for Two; When Sunny Gets Blue; Party on Park.

Personnel

Ian Charleton

composer / conductor

Mark Oates

trumpet

Pete Sutorius

trumpet

Mark Nixon

trumpet

Kerry Moffit

trumpet

Richard Garcia

saxophone, alto

Jason Hammers

saxophone

Keith Philbrick

saxophone, tenor

Michael Ferrante

saxophone, tenor

David Fatek

saxophone, baritone

John Lloyd

trombone

Lisa Drefke

trombone

Carl Lundgren

trombone

Dandrick Glenn

trombone, bass

Bart Kuebler

piano

Wes Wagner

guitar

Ryan Persaud

bass

Bob Habib

drums

Emily Charleton

vocals

Album information

Title: A Fresh Perspective | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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