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The Scott Silbert Big Band: Jump Children

By Jack Bowers
March 31, 2022
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The best music, in jazz or any other genre, is and should be timeless. To prove the point, the

Scott Silbert

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Silbert Big Band celebrates the songs of a bygone era on its debut album, Jump Children, refreshing a number of memorable themes from the '30s, '40s and '50s and underscoring their relevance in an ultra-modern twenty-first century environment. His goal, Silbert writes, was "to represent the fantastic musicianship of the artists [who] originally performed these works," venerated masters such as

Jimmie Lunceford

composer / conductor
1902 - 1947

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

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

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

Larry Clinton

b.1909

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Clinton,

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Goodman,

Louis Jordan

saxophone, alto
1908 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Jordan,

Harry James

trumpet
1916 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry James,

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie,

Tommy Dorsey

trombone
1905 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Tommy Dorsey and others. Thanks to Silbert's unerring facsimiles and the diligence and energy of his superb DC-area ensemble, mission accomplished.

There is one brief detour on the colorful trip down memory lane. Silbert, who arranges for the superlative Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, composed and arranged "Tootsie's Rag," whose exuberant harmonies and rhythms readily complement the rest of the program. Only one band is represented more than once: the renowned International Sweethearts of Rhythm, by the opening "Jump Children" and the high-spirited "She's Crazy with the Heat."

Gretchen Midgley

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Gretchen Midgley (misspelled Midgely twice) sings on "Jump Children" and "11:60 P.M.," on which trumpeter

Joshua Kaufmann

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Kaufmann sits in for the incomparable

Harry James

trumpet
1916 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry James. That number precedes another Swing Era classic, guitarist

Freddie Green

guitar, acoustic
1911 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Green's irrepressible "Down for Double," written for the Basie orchestra.

Speaking of classics, the album closes with

Edgar Sampson

b.1907

" data-original-title="" title="">Edgar Sampson's well-traveled masterpiece, "Stompin' at the Savoy," meticulously transcribed by Silbert (who did the same for every number) and admirably performed by the band whose excellent brass and reeds are led by trumpeter

Liesl Whitaker

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Liesl Whitaker, trombonist

Dave Perkel

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Perkel and alto saxophonist

Charlie Young

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Young. The rhythm section (

Tony Nalker

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Nalker, piano;

Craig Gildner

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Gildner, guitar;

Amy Shook

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Amy Shook, bass;

Ken Kimery

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Kimery, drums) is no less impressive. Several are alumni (as is Silbert) of the US Navy Commodores or other DC-area service bands. Silbert solos on tenor sax and clarinet (five numbers each), and even sings (quite well) on Louis Jordan's "I Want a Roof (Over My Head)." Besides Silbert and Kaufmann, the soloists are Young, Nalker, Gildner, Kimery, tenor

Grant Langford

saxophone, alto
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Grant Langford, baritone

Leigh Pilzer

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Leigh Pilzer, trombonist

Jen Krupa

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jen Krupa, trumpeter

Chris Walker

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Walker and even Whitaker who usually limits herself to lead trumpet duties. What is most remarkable is how everyone plays in a "modern" groove without sacrificing the resourcefulness and ardor that epitomized their trailblazing predecessors.

Aside from the songs already mentioned, the playlist includes "Annie Laurie," "In a Persian Market," "Jumpin' Pumpkins," "Edna," "Dusk," "Lullaby in Rhythm," "Chloe" and "Shipyard Ramble." Every one of them a winner, as is Jump Children from start to finish. For those who lived through the Swing Era, it's a treasure trove of warm and unforgettable memories; for those who didn't, it's a chance to hear and appreciate some of the songs that helped make it a Golden Age for American music in general and jazz in particular.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Jump Children; Annie Laurie; In a Persian Market; Jumpin�� Punkins; Edna; Tootsie��s Rag; I Want a Roof (Over My Head); Dusk; Lullaby in Rhythm; 11:60 P.M.; Down for Double; Chloe; Shipyard Ramble; She��s Crazy with the Heat; Stompin�� at the Savoy.

Personnel

Scott Silbert

saxophone, tenor

Liesl Whitaker

trumpet

Joshua Kaufmann

trumpet

Chris Walker

drums

Charlie Young

saxophone, alto

Antonio Parker

saxophone

Grant Langford

saxophone, alto

Leigh Pilzer

saxophone, baritone

Dave Perkel

trombone

Jen Krupa

trombone

Kirsten Warfield

trombone

Tony Nalker

piano

Craig Gildner

piano

Amy Shook

bass, acoustic

Ken Kimery

drums

Gretchen Midgley

vocals

Album information

Title: Jump Children | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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