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Eyal Vilner Big Band: Swingin' Uptown

By Jack Bowers
September 6, 2024
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Even though he was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, composer, saxophonist and educator Eyal Vilner is well-versed in the origins and history of American jazz, especially as they pertain to the Swing Era, big bands and the largely black jazz experience in Harlem and elsewhere. Those interests converge on Swingin' Uptown, on which Vilner's excellent big band swings its way through sixteen impressive charts, several of which were inspired by Harlem's remarkble jazz narrative.

Besides arranging every number, Vilner wrote half a dozen, every one of which would have found a comfortable home in the

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

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

Jimmie Lunceford

composer / conductor
1902 - 1947

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

Fletcher Henderson

arranger
1897 - 1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Fletcher Henderson libraries. The band opens with the first three—"Chicken an' Dumplings," "Bumpy Tour Bus" and the album's title song—establishing a cozy retro groove—before vocalist Imani Rouselle makes the first of her four appearances on the bluesy "Tell Me Pretty Baby." She returns again on "Is You Is or Is You Ain't (My Baby)," sandwiched between the charming "I Want Coffee" and a well-traveled standard from 1924, "Tea for Two," played much as it may have been when introduced in the musical No, No Nanette.

Vilner's bright and bustling "Lobby Call Blues" leads to another standard, Irving Berlin's limpid "Blue Skies," and a pleasing change of pace, the soulful "Don't You Feel My Leg," leading to a third vocal (and scat) by Rouselle on the bouncy "I Love the Rhythm in a Riff." After Vilner's alto takes center stage on an easygoing reading of "I Don't Want to Be Kissed (By Anyone Else But You)," Rousselle returns on "Swing Brother Swing" before the ensemble closes with Vilner's tasteful "Coffee Bean Stomp Jubilee," rapid-fire "Hellzapoppin'" and pleasurable "Afternoon at Smalls" (enlivened by flutes, trombones and sharp ensemble work), a bonus track from a previous big-band session.

The band is robust and resilient throughout, the soloists never less than agreeable. Vilner is heard most often but shares blowing space with several others including trumpeter

Brandon Lee

trumpet
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Lee, trombonists

Ron Wilkins

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Wilkins and

Rob Edwards

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Edwards, pianists

Jon Thomas

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Thomas and

Jordan Piper

piano
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Jordan Piper, tenor

Julieta Eugenio

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Julieta Eugenio and drummer

Eran Fink

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Eran Fink. For those who embrace fond memories of the Swing Era and would welcome its rebirth, a strong and effective dose of adrenalin.

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Track Listing

Chicken an�� Dumplings; Bumpy Tour Bus; Swingin�� Uptown; Tell Me Pretty Baby; I Want Coffee; Is You Is or Is You Ain��t; Tea for Two; Lobby Call Blues; Blue Skies; Don��t You Feel My Leg; I Love the Rhythm in a Riff; I Don��t Want to Be Kissed (By Anyone Else But You); Swing Brother Swing; Coffee Bean Stomp Jubilee; Hellzapoppin��; Afternoon at Smalls.

Personnel

Eyal Vilner

saxophone

John Lake

trumpet

Brandon Lee

trumpet

Bryan Davis

piano

Michael Sailors

trumpet

James Zollar

trumpet

Bill Todd

saxophone, alto

Jordan Pettay

saxophone, tenor

Julieta Eugenio

saxophone

Evan Arntzen

saxophone

Michael Hashim

saxophone, sopranino

Josh Lee

saxophone, alto

Eden Bareket

saxophone, baritone

Jon Thomas

piano

Jordan Piper

piano

Ian Hutchison

bass, acoustic

Eran Fink

drums

Imani Rousselle

vocals

Album information

Title: Swingin' Uptown | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

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