Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Act Your Age

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Act Your Age

By Edward Blanco
December 13, 2008
View read count

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Act Your Age

Band leader, composer and instrumentalist Gordon Goodwin takes his 18-piece Big Phat Band to another level, producing a rare CD/DVD set and garnishing a heap of praise from critics and the Grammy folks alike. Act Your Age is one heck of an album, having received three 2008 Grammy nominations for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Best Instrumental Composition (Goodwin's "Hit The Ground Running"), and Best Instrumental Arrangement (Goodwin's arrangement of "Yesterdays"). This makes for a total of 11 nominations, and one overall win for Goodwin since 2000, when he began recording with the Big Phat Band.

Already established as a first-rate composer and arranger, Goodwin presents seven originals along with dynamic arrangements of five standards, completing an exciting package of big band music. The Big Phat Band is a world-class orchestra, containing some of the best players on the west coast, including reedmen

Eric Marienthal

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Marienthal, Sal Lozano and Brian Scanion, trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Bob Summers, and trombonists Andy Martin and Alex Isles. A multi-instrumentalist himself, Goodwin performs on the piano as well as tenor and soprano saxophone.

For this unique recording, Goodwin brings in some special guests that help put the finishing touches to this outstanding set, even enlisting the talents of

Art Tatum

piano
1909 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Tatum through the help of virtual technology, an electronic process by which the late pianist's recording of the Jerome Kern classic "Yesterdays" is digitized and woven into a Goodwin big band arrangement. Others notable guest spots include Patti Austin's vocal turn on "September," also featuring guitarist

Lee Ritenour

guitar
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Ritenour. Ritenour also appears on "Punta Del Soul," alongside longtime collaborator, pianist

Dave Grusin

piano
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Grusin. The great

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea lays down some incredible piano lines on his own riveting "Senor Mouse."

The title piece is a very bouncy, funky tune featuring bassist Nathan East and Marienthal on alto on perhaps the album's wildest score. In contrast, Goodwin takes a tasteful bow on soprano for his beautiful, soft ballad "Chance Encounters," another of the many outstanding tunes on Act Your Age. "Backrow Politics" offers a sampling of some excellent horn play from Bergeron and Summers, who both contribute terrific solos. Tenor saxophonist Scanion takes center stage on "East Coast Envy" and "El Macho Muchacho," while the leader's tenor shines on the finale, "Gumbo Street."

Act Your Age has all the elements of a successful, award-wining album, with a cast of luminaries, gorgeous charts and first-rate musicianship from a world-class big band. Once again Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band make a musical statement that lovers of the genre will not soon forget.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Hit the Ground Running; Watermelon Man; September; Yesterdays; Se

Personnel

Gordon Goodwin

composer / conductor

Gordon Goodwin: piano (4), tenor saxophone (12), soprano saxophone (8); Eric Marienthal: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Sal Lozano: alto saxophone, flute, piccolo; Brian Scanion: tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Jeff Driskill: tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Jay Mason: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Bernie Dresel: drums; Brad Dutz: percussions; Wayne Bergeron: trumpet; Dan Fornero: trumpet; Dan Savant: trumpet; Bob Summers: trumpet (1-6, 9); Pete DeSienna: trumpet (7, 8, 10-12); Andrew Synowiec: guitar (1-7, 9); Grant Giessman: guitar (8, 10-12);Rick Shaw: bass; Andy Martin: trombone; Charlie Morillas: trombone; Craig Ware: trombone; Francisco Torres: trombone(3, 5, 6); Alex Iles: trombone (1, 2, 4, 7-12); Lee Ritenour: guitar (3, 6); Dave Grusin: piano (6); Chick Corea: piano (5); Patti Austin: vocals (3); Art Tatum (through technology): piano (4).

Album information

Title: Act Your Age | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Immergent Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Omnibus
< Previous

Jason Moran
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.