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Ira B. Liss has one high energy big band marked by superior ensemble and solo playing and wonderfully crafted arrangements...
—Ron Weinstock, In a Blue Mood
Mazel Tov Kocktail!, the newest recording by the 
Ira B. Liss Big Band Machine Releases 'Mazel Tov Kocktail!' - A Celebration Of 40 Years, Coming January 15, 2021
Bob Mintzer
saxophoneb.1953
Bob Mintzer
saxophoneb.1953
Wayne Bergeron
trumpetHolly Hofmann
flute
Eric Marienthal
saxophoneb.1957
Ira Liss formed the band back in 1979 and today is the band’s producer, conductor, artistic director, and overall guiding light. Liss is a big guy. He is 6’7” tall, which is why he started out as an alto saxophonist but was moved by a teacher to the baritone sax chair when he was in his high school band. A native of San Diego, he studied music at San Diego State University and went on to perform as a sideman with many jazz luminaries, such as
Rob McConnell
trombone1935 - 2010
Barney Kessel
guitar, electric1923 - 2004
Louie Bellson
drums1924 - 2009
Pete Christlieb
saxophoneb.1945
The band’s beginnings were inauspicious. Liss formed the band in 1979 as a vehicle for students to work on their chops. They began playing at a high school during the summer, but under Liss’ direction, they eventually became good enough to perform for the public. Soon, older, more experienced musicians wanted to join, too, and as the playing got better and more professional, the school band became a community band, performing in an ever-wider array of venues.
Liss had been playing his bari in the band until their popularity reached a point that they needed a full-time leader to guide their direction. So, Liss stopped performing and assumed the role of band director. By 1994, the band had been a completely professional organization for many years, and Liss decided it was time to capture their sound on a record. They released their first project, First Impressions, in 1994. That recording is out of print, but the subsequent four albums, including Everything Under the Sun (1999), Symphomaniacs (2002), It’s About Time (2013), and Tasty Tunes (2017) are still widely available. The jazz blog Musical Memoirs said about Tasty Tunes, “Every track on this CD is well produced and delightfully arranged. If you are a lover of big band music, this is the ultimate box of chocolates. Each tune becomes a unique and pleasant surprise.”
Mazel Tov Kocktail! is the band’s 6th recording project, and like all the others, it features new compositions and newly imagined arrangements of standards. Liss says, “The band is the sum of its parts, and every chair is important. Big bands need a creative vision to push the music forward, and I like a lot of variety.”
The music on this recording is indeed varied, with six arrangers contributing to the project, including three compositions and arrangements by Dan Radlauer, the Composer in Residence for the band. Radlauer has composed for television, movies, and over 1,000 commercials. He wrote and arranged the title tune “Mazel Tov Kocktail,” a chart with a distinctly klezmer-like sound. Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe, often featuring a clarinet and accordion. The tune features Radlauer, who is a multi-instrumentalist, on accordion and April Leslie on clarinet. Liss decided to title the album with this song title because klezmer music is celebratory, and the band is celebrating their 40th anniversary. Radlauer also penned “Keys to the City” and “Bass: The Final Frontier,” featuring
Nathan East
bass
Andrew Neu
saxophoneb.1979
Mike Vax
trumpetGeorge Stone
pianoMatt Dibiase
vibraphoneVocalist " data-original-title="" title="">Janet Hammer has a smoky, emotive alto voice singing the standards “I Wish You Love” and “You’d Better Love Me While You May,” arranged by
Drew Zaremba
saxophoneZaremba also wrote the arrangement for Chick Corea’s “High Wire,” featuring Carly Ines on vocals. Ines is a trombone player with the band and sings on “I Love You Madly,” arranged by
Alan Baylock
composer / conductor
Scott Arcangel
arrangerb.1976
The Ira B. Liss Big Band Machine is a well-oiled group of musicians whose ensemble playing and solo work is sophisticated and compelling. Under the direction of conductor and producer Ira Liss, Mazel Tov Kocktail! is a high-energy, crowd-pleasing, romp through a diverse slate of tunes old and new.
Mazel Tov Kocktail! will be available on Amazon, Bandcamp (link below), CD Baby, and iTunes on January 15, 2021.
Visit Website
For more information contact Mouthpiece Music.
Track Listing
Gimmie That; High Wire; Keys to the City; Love You Madly; Bass: The Final Frontier; You'd Better Love Me While You May; Mazel Tov Kocktail; I Wish You Love; Springtime; Joy Spring; West Wings.
Personnel
Ira B. Liss
composer / conductorAdditional Instrumentation
Saxophones: Tyler Richardson, Josh Smitley, Greg Armstrong, Nicholas Hoo, April Leslie, Malcom Jones, Davide Castel De Oro; Trombones: Gary Bucher, David Barnard, Carly Ines, Tim Hall; Trumpets: Randy Aviles, Mark Nicholson, Jeff Beck, Jack Houghton; Rhythm: Steve Sibley, Lance Jeppesen, Charlie "Stix" McGhee III, Melanie Medina, Robert Cartwright, Noah Ines, Matt Dibiase: Vocals: Janet Hammer (6, 8, 12), Carly Ines (2, 4, 10); Special Guests: Nathan East, Andrew Neu, Dan Radlauer, Mike Vax; Produced by Ira B. Liss; Arranged by Andrew Neu (1), Drew Zaremba (2, 6), Dan Radlauer (3, 5), Alan Baylock (4), Peter HerbolzHeimer (8, 9), Scott Arcangel (10), George Stone (11, 12).
Album information
Title: Mazel Tov Kocktail! | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Tall Man Productions
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Recording
Mouthpiece Music
Holly Cooper
United States
California
San Diego
Ira B. Liss
Mazel Tov Kocktail!
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