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Nikos Chatzitsakos: Tiny Big Band 2

By Jack Bowers
February 18, 2024
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Cleaving to the premise that one Tiny Big Band deserves another, bassist

Nikos Chatzitsakos

bass, acoustic
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Nikos Chatzitsakos is back with Tiny Big Band 2, the second album by his feisty nonet and a follow-up to the well-received Tiny Big Band! (self-produced), recorded in 2022.

This time, Chatzitsakos uses two vocalists instead of one, rotating them on half of the album's eight tracks, and brings back only three of the earlier album's instrumentalists, plus himself. The returnees are cornetist

Robert Mac Vega-Dowda

flugelhorn

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Mac Vega-Dowda, tenor saxophonist

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Baden and baritone

Gabriel Nekrutman

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Gabriel Nekrutman. As before, Chatzitsakos' choice of material is strong, as are his colorful arrangements.

Alexandria DeWalt

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexandria DeWalt sings on Cole Porter's "Get Out of Town" and Rodgers and Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was,"

Eleni Ermina Sofou

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Eleni Ermina Sofou on a second Rodgers and Hart gem, "Where Or When," and

Michel Legrand

piano
1932 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Legrand's "The Windmills of Your Mind." While there's not much to choose between them, the word that seems most appropriate to summarize the four vocals is "passable."

Among the instrumentals, best in show is

Donald Byrd

trumpet
1932 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Byrd's light-hearted "Fly Little Bird Fly," on which the ensemble spreads its collective wings behind trim solos by pianist

Wilfie Williams

piano
b.1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Wilfie Williams, alto

Salim Charvet

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Salim Charvet, trumpeter

Joey Curreri

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Curreri and drummer

Samuel Bolduc

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Samuel Bolduc. The nonet opens with the standard "All or Nothing At All," closes with

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim's sultry "Fotografia" and warmly embraces

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's even-tempered ballad, "You Know I Care." Chatzitsakos solos on that number, as he does on "Fotografia."

Trombonist

Armando Vergara

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Armando Vergara solos twice, Nekrutman only once, but they make the most of their chances, Vergara on "Where or When" and "You Know I Care," Nekrutman on "I Didn't Know What Time It Was." While the other soloists are by and large respectable—but seldom more than that—Williams is impressive on "All or Nothing," "Fotografia" and especially "Fly Little Bird." Another better-than-average session by Chatzitsako's Tiny Big Band, even though a step or two behind its debut, owing for the most part to a surplus of vocals (two per album is more than enough) and some solos that don't quite gel. Still and all, more than enough bright moments for a favorable assessment.

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Track Listing

All or Nothing at All; Get Out of Town; Fly Little Bird Fly; Where or When; I Didn��t Know What Time It Is; You Know I Care; The Windmills of Your Mind; Fotografia.

Personnel

Nikos Chatzitsakos

bass, acoustic

Joey Curreri

trumpet

Robert Mac Vega-Dowda

flugelhorn

Salim Charvet

saxophone, alto

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

Armando Vergara

trombone

Gabriel Nekrutman

saxophone, baritone

Wilfie Williams

piano

Samuel Bolduc

drums

Alexandria DeWalt

vocals

Eleni Ermina Sofou

vocals

Album information

Title: Tiny Big Band 2 | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

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