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Bob Mintzer: Soundscapes

By Richard J Salvucci
October 10, 2021
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Well, what is your pleasure? Swinging charts? You have them. A tight big band? Yes, that certainly, and more. Terrific soloists? In abundance. A blend of genres that go from straight ahead to Latin to funk? That is all here too. The only thing absent, and all respect to

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer, is excitement. To be honest, many contemporary big bands doing studio recordings have a similar issue. The level of musicianship is astronomical, but something is not there. You wonder how many people could hear one of

Buddy Rich

drums
1917 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Rich's bands and think, "Fantastic, but something is missing." There are clams, sometimes. Missed entrances. It happens. Ennui. No, never.

"A Reprieve" is Mintzer's own handiwork, and features Mintzer on EWI and an upbeat melodic line punctuated by a very good trumpet section. Paul Heller solos on tenor. "The Conversation: is another Mintzer original where the sax soli hint at Mintzer's tenure with Buddy Rich and a fine tenor solo, again by Mintzer. For some reason, "Stay Up" briefly recalls

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan's Concert Band and you half expect "Blueport" to break out. "I've played thousands of 'Montunos' in my time," comments Mintzer on the tune of the same name. DIVA alumna

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Karolina Strassmayer tears off a burning alto sax solo, and Mintzer again displays his versatility on EWI. "Whack" is, for want of a better characterization, an exercise in meandering, "a total experiment," says Mintzer. "Canyon Winds" is not quite program music, but the title fits, and

Andy Haderer

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Haderer's trumpet solo somehow manages to resonate with both

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard and

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson. He is some player. It is interesting to hear Mintzer reprise "One Music" with a big band, since the tune goes back to the 1990s with the

Yellowjackets

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Yellowjackets. Which version one prefers is a matter of taste, but maybe the intimacy of the Jackets made it resonate a bit more.

Bill Milkowski

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Milkowski's liner notes refer to the WDR Big Band as "an elite crew." It certainly is. Somehow big bands always seem to draw energy and excitement from a live audience. This one is the difference. In reality, perhaps that is the missing element.

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Track Listing

A Reprieve; The Conversation; Stay Up; Montuno; Whack; Canyon Winds; Herky Jerky; New Look; One Music; VM.

Personnel

Bob Mintzer

saxophone

Wim Both

trumpet

Rob Bruynen

trumpet

Andy Haderer

trumpet

Ruud Breuls

trumpet

Johan Horlen

saxophone, alto

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

Paul Heller

saxophone, tenor

Olivier Peters

saxophone, tenor

Jens Neufang

saxophone, baritone

Ludwig Nuss

trombone

Raphael Klemm

trombone

Andy Hunter

trombone

Mattis Cederberg

trombone, bass

Billy Test

piano

Stefan Rey

bass

Hans Dekker

drums

Marcio Doctor

percussion

Album information

Title: Soundscapes | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: MCG Jazz

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