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Andy Farber and His Orchestra: Early Blue Evening

By Jack Bowers
October 5, 2021
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Andy Farber and His Orchestra: Early Blue Evening

Saxophonist

Andy Farber

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Farber's New York-based orchestra came together and cut its teeth as the onstage band for three hundred performances of After Midnight, a Broadway revue that paid tribute to Jazz Age nightclub luminaries from

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington,

Jimmie Lunceford

composer / conductor
1902 - 1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmie Lunceford and

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie to Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh. As one might presume from the orchestra's provenance, echoes of Ellington and Basie can readily be discerned on its first recording since After Midnight closed in 2014—but Farber, who wrote every number save the last two and arranged them all, is sharp and skillful enough never to imitate. Instead, he writes contemporary themes tautly anchored in an old-school framework that should gratify fans of big-band eras past and present.

The spirit of Ellington arises early on the bluesy opener, "Don't Tell Me What to Do," and is never more than a downbeat away thereafter. Meanwhile, guitarist

James Chirillo

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">James Chirillo helps keep the Basie/

Freddie Green

guitar, acoustic
1911 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Green vibe flowing, especially on the easygoing "Cork Grease and Valve Oil" and groovy "Symphony for Dr. 'T.'" Flugel player

Brian Pareschi

trumpet
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Pareschi is showcased on that ode to the deviant Dutch detective, alto saxophonist

Godwin Louis

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Godwin Louis on the lustrous "Early Blue Evening," Farber (baritone) on the heartfelt "Portrait of

Joe Temperley

saxophone
1929 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Temperley." Farber solos on alto with pianist

Adam Birnbaum

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Birnbaum on

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti's well-known "Theme from The Odd Couple," on tenor with trumpeter

James Zollar

trumpet
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">James Zollar and vocalist

Catherine Russell

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Catherine Russell on the finale, Jack King/Dorothy Parker's sensuous ballad, "How Am I to Know."

Farber's other enticing themes include the buoyant "Feet and Frames" (solos by Birnbaum, alto

Mark Gross

trumpet and vocals
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Gross, trombonist

Dion Tucker

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dion Tucker, trumpeter

Bruce Harris

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Bruce Harris); "The Holidaymakers" (Zollar, Birnbaum, trumpeter

Alphonso Horne

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Alphonso Horne, trombonists

Art Baron

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Baron and

Wayne Goodman

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Goodman); "Aircheck" (Birnbaum—playing Basie-style piano, tenor

Lance Bryant

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Lance Bryant, trumpeter

Bruce Harris

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Bruce Harris); and "Fanfare on Fairfax" (Chirillo, Louis, baritone

Carl Maraghi

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Maraghi, drummer

Alvester Garnett

drums
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Alvester Garnett). Farber leads an all-star ensemble and gives almost every star a chance to shine. The only band members who don't solo at least once are trumpeter

Shawn Edmonds

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Shawn Edmonds (who sits in for Horne on half a dozen numbers) and the rock-solid bassist

Jennifer Vincent

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Jennifer Vincent who shines in her own effective way.

The brightest star is Farber himself who manages to walk a fine line between today and yesterday without once losing his balance or striking a false note. He keeps the tempos light and the moods bright and checks all the boxes from blues to ballad, Latin to swing with ease and assurance while interweaving enough color and variety to please almost any ear. While Early Blue Evening doesn't attempt to re-create the big band era, it does serve to remind us how glorious those precious years were.

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Track Listing

Don��t Tell Me What to Do; Feet and Frames; The Holidaymakers; Aircheck; Early Blue Evening; Fanfare on Fairfax; Cork Grease and Valve Oil; Portrait of Joe Temperley; Symphony for Doctor ��T��; Theme from The Odd Couple; How Am I to Know?

Personnel

Andy Farber

saxophone

Brian Pareschi

trumpet

Bruce Harris

trumpet

James Zollar

trumpet

Alphonso Horne

trumpet

Shawn Edmonds

trumpet

Mark Gross

trumpet and vocals

Godwin Louis

saxophone

Dan Block

saxophone

Lance Bryant

saxophone, tenor

Carl Maraghi

saxophone, baritone

Wayne Goodman

trombone

Art Baron

trombone

Dion Tucker

trombone

James Chirillo

guitar

Adam Birnbaum

piano

Jennifer Vincent

bass, acoustic

Alvester Garnett

drums

Catherine Russell

vocals

Album information

Title: Early Blue Evening | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: ArtistShare

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