Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John La Barbera Big Band: Grooveyard

John La Barbera Big Band: Grooveyard

By Jack Bowers
September 27, 2023
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Composer/arranger

John La Barbera

composer / conductor
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">John La Barbera has been at the top of his game for more than half a century, and Grooveyard is simply another example of his undiminished artistry. Besides arranging everything—superbly, as always—La Barbera wrote six of the session's ten charming songs, escorting other treasures by

Carl Perkins

piano
1928 - 1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Perkins,

Dave Brubeck

piano
1920 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Brubeck,

Curtis Fuller

trombone
1934 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Curtis Fuller and

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones.

As he writes his handsome and colorful big-band charts, La Barbera is always careful to observe Rule No. 1: they have to swing. That starts with the rhythm section (check) and encompasses brass and reeds (check again). There are those, of course, who may assert that any band La Barbera assembles has an unfair advantage. Need an awesome saxophone soloist?

Pat La Barbera

saxophone
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat La Barbera says he can make the gig. How about an exceptional drummer to drive the band's rhythm section?

Joe La Barbera

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe La Barbera is ready and able. Okay, that may not be entirely above-board, but in bands led by John La Barbera, blood usually swings harder than any alternative.

And the alternatives here are plentiful and talented, as pianist

Renee Rosnes

piano
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Renee Rosnes and bassist

Rufus Reid

bass, acoustic
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Rufus Reid helping brother Joe ignite the rhythm behind a remarkable trumpet section led by

John Chudoba

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">John Chudoba and similarly impressive trombones helmed by

Ryan Keberle

trombone
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Keberle. As for the reeds, one can hardly go astray with

Steve Wilson

saxophone
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Wilson and

Erica von Kleist

saxophone
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Erica von Kleist on alto, brother Pat and

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Sadigursky on tenor and

Andy Gutauskas

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Gutauskas on baritone. That's before mentioning clarinetist

Juan Ruiz

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Juan Ruiz who shares center stage with Sadigursky (also on clarinet) on La Barbera's high-flying "Choro Para Thiago."

The album opens with Perkins' groovy title song (solos by Pat on tenor and guitarist

Brandon Coleman

piano
b.1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Coleman) before going Latin—for the first time—on "My New Summer Samba," a bright and tantalizing charmer inspired by John's visit to Brazil in 2017 wherein Pat switches to soprano while Keberle and Joe solo as well. Brubeck wrote the amiable "For Iola" to praise his wife of seventy years; Pat solos, again on soprano, and Rosnes adds the first of three persuasive statements. The next four tunes were written by John, starting with "Thanks Hank," a warm-hearted tribute to Henry Mancini whose TV series, Peter Gunn, John writes, was the siblings' lone source of live jazz as they were growing up in a small town in New York state. Rosnes and Sadigursky solo on an ultra-hip theme that sounds as though it could have been written by Mancini himself, right down to the Pink Panther-esque fade.

"Tranesome," John's multi-colored salute to

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane, is next, with Pat on tenor and Rosnes sharing solo honors, followed by "Choro Para Thiago" and John's animated bow to trumpeter

Kenny Dorham

trumpet
1924 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Dorham, "K's Delight," on which trumpeter

Brandon Lee

trumpet
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Lee (one of John's former students) deps for Dorham and Sadigursky adds a second solo. Sooner or later, any big band worth its name must lay on a blues, and John covers that base nicely with the (not-at-all) "Mandatory Blues"—and what better place for Wilson and trumpeter

Clay Jenkins

trumpet
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Clay Jenkins to take their first (and only) solos, brightening the landscape while brother Joe nourishes the rhythm. Fuller's light and lyrical "Sweetness" is another of the album's pleasant surprises, skipping merrily along behind captivating solos by baritone Gutauskas and trombonist

Steve Davis

trombone
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Davis. That leads to the stalwart finale, Jones' "Keiko's Birthday March," introduced by brother Joe who later delivers his only extended solo (well worth the wait), punctuating decisive ad libs by Pat on tenor and trumpeter Jenkins.

Yes, Grooveyard is, in some ways, a family affair—and that's an unequivocal bonus when the family name is La Barbera. It is, however, far more than that, ensnaring the listener on every number with an irresistible blend of power and finesse. To put it another way, for big-band enthusiasts it doesn't get much better than this.

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Track Listing

Grooveyard; My New Summer Samba; For Iola; Thanks Hank; Tranesome; Choro Para Thiago; K��s Delight; Mandatory Blues; Sweetness; Keiko��s Birthday March.

Personnel

John La Barbera

composer / conductor

Steve Wilson

saxophone

Erica von Kleist

saxophone

Pat La Barbera

saxophone

Sam Sadigursky

clarinet

Andy Gutauskas

woodwinds

John Chudoba

trumpet

Brian Pareschi

trumpet

Brandon Lee

trumpet

Clay Jenkins

trumpet

Ryan Keberle

trombone

Mike Davis

cornet

Sara Jacovino

trombone

David Taylor

drums

Brandon Scott Coleman

guitar

Renee Rosnes

piano

Rufus Reid

bass, acoustic

Frank Gravis

bass, electric

Kiko Sebrian

drums

Joe La Barbera

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Steve Wilson: flute; Erika Von Kleist: flute; Pat La Barbera: soprano saxophone; Sam Sadigursky: clarinet; Andy Gutauskas: bass clarinet; Juan Ruiz: clarinet (6); Brian Pareschi: Lead (7,9); Mike Davis: Lead (7); Renee Rosnes: keyboards;

Album information

Title: Grooveyard | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Origin Records

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