Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Steve Patrick And The Music City Orchestra: Reflections

Steve Patrick And The Music City Orchestra: Reflections

By Nicholas F. Mondello
July 18, 2022
View read count

Steve Patrick And The Music City Orchestra: Reflections

Back in the 1960s, sound technologies and in-studio recording/engineering advances were developing rapidly. Labels such as Solid State and Command Records produced brilliant, acoustically enhanced recordings, many done by New York studio greats such as trumpeter

Doc Severinsen

trumpet
b.1927

" data-original-title="" title="">Doc Severinsen. Those companies leveraged technical advances to enhance the talents of the recording artists. As a result, it was a musically rich time for record buyers.

With Reflections, trumpeter

Steve Patrick

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Patrick, long an ardent admirer of Severinsen, delivers ten selections of all-encompassing quality, beauty and balance. Every tune is either an established Great American Songbook standard or a familiar cinema theme, modernized, invigorated, and delivered in a style that fits perfectly in that classic 1960s mold.

A burning "After You've Gone" launches the date with Patrick's soaring horn calling and the band responding with fierce energy. Three lovely ballads, all taken straight up, bring tempos down—"Stardust," "Love Story" and "Unforgettable," which last features Mark Broussard nicely handling the

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole duties. Each of these ballads demonstrates Patrick's balladic skills and the superb textural talents of this world-class studio ensemble.

Patrick's chops and musical abilities are vast. Long a leading fixture in the Nashville studio scene, he has all the goods—pristine, inviting tone, high-note range, great improv, an impeccable vocal approach to his phrasing, and respect for the unsung lyric. The arrangements from Calvin Turner spotlight the leader while graciously allowing the ensemble and the other soloists to also shine. The ensemble swings and steps on the gas on the thumping mid-section of "Almost Like Being in Love." A somber clarinet leads into a bluesy "Stormy Weather" with a tasty guitar solo from Court Clement. David Raskin's "Laura" is a

Stan Kenton

piano
1911 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Kentonesque take—lush and brassy. Vocalist Missi Hale covers the enigmatic "My Funny Valentine" with soulful flair.

Michel Legrand

piano
1932 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Legrand's beautiful "The Summer Knows" is a gold ribbon that ties the bow on the session.

On July 7, 2022 trumpeter and Tonight Show bandleader, Doc Severinsen celebrated his 95th birthday. It would be a great gift for him to hear this wonderful, inspiring album. He would assuredly then know that his trumpeting legacy is in the best of hands for the future.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

After You've Gone; Stardust; Love Story; Unforgettable; Almost like Being in Love; Stormy Weather; Laura; Stompin' at the Savoy; My Funny Valentine; The Summer Knows.

Personnel

Steve Patrick

trumpet

Mike Haynes

trumpet

Keith Smith

trumpet

Mark Douthit

saxophone

Jeff Coffin

saxophone

Erik Graton

flute

Scott Williamson

drums

Craig Nelson

bass, acoustic

Jason Webb

piano

Court Clement

guitar, electric

Mark Broussard

vocals

Missi Hale

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Trumpets and Flugelhorns: Mike Haynes, Jeff Bailey, Keith Smith: trumpet, flugelhorn; Barry Green: trombone; Matt Jefferson: trombone, bass trombone; Mark Douthit: alto and tenor saxophone; Jeff Coffin; tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute; Erik Graton: flute and alto flute; Jason Webb, piano, celeste, vibraphone.

Album information

Title: Reflections | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Green Hill Productions

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Summer Releases from Sasha Berliner,...
< Previous

Ethno Port 2022
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.