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Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine: Tasty Tunes

By Jack Bowers
February 11, 2018
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Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine: Tasty Tunes

Tasty Tunes is the fifth CD by

Ira B. Liss

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ira B. Liss' stalwart San Diego-based Jazz Machine, which was formed almost forty years ago, in 1979—a span that, when reckoned in big-band years, is much closer to a century or more. While other bands have come and gone the Jazz Machine has adamantly stayed the course, presenting dynamic big-band jazz to its southern California audiences without watering down the leader's guiding principle, which is to ensure that the music is always creative and swinging.

As is true in other areas of endeavor, big bands can often be measured by the company they keep. In other words, who has signed on to reinforce the ensemble—and who is writing the charts? On Tasty Tunes, the Jazz Machine's guest artists —tenor saxophonist

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer, guitarist

Dean Brown

guitar, electric
1955 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Dean Brown, alto

Eric Marienthal

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Marienthal, flutist

Holly Hofmann

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Holly Hofmann —bring with them long and impressive curriculum vitae (in other words, resumes). As for the arrangers, they include the likes of Mintzer, Brown,

Tom Kubis

arranger

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Kubis,

Eric Richards

bass, electric
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Richards,

Mike Crotty

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Crotty, the late

Peter Herbolzheimer

trombone
1935 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Herbolzheimer and Mike Abene—for big bands, it doesn't get much better than that.

Mintzer solos smartly with pianist

Steve Sibley

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Sibley and guitarist

Alex Ciavarelli

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Ciavarelli on his well-grooved composition, "When the Lady Dances," Brown with Ciavarelli, Sibley (electric piano), soprano

Christopher Hollyday

saxophone
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Christopher Hollyday and drummer

Charlie McGhee

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie McGhee on his rhythmically persuasive "Recon," which rings down the curtain. Marienthal is superbly showcased on Kubis' fabulous arrangement of the

Ralph Burns

piano
1922 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Ralph Burns /

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman classic, "Early Autumn," Hofmann (on alto flute) with vocalist

Janet Hammer

" data-original-title="" title="">Janet Hammer on

Carl Murr

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Murr's tender treatment of the Nat Cole mega-hit, "Nature Boy." Hollyday, who has flown under the radar for several years (great to hear him again), unleashes a smoking alto solo on the flag-waving opener, "You Don't Know What Love Is" (arranged by Richards), leading to decisive statements by Sibley and trumpeter

Peter Green

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Green. Crotty's arrangement of

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins' sinuous "Oleo" (featuring the saxophone section) is another highlight, as are Green's and

Randy Aviles

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Aviles' dueling trumpets on "Over the Rainbow." Hammer is heard again on Rodgers and Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" (arranged by

Drew Zaremba

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Drew Zaremba) and

Tracy Coleman

" data-original-title="" title="">Tracy Coleman's instantly forgettable "Ya Turn Me On Baby." Hammer sings on-key and with no needless frills.

Completing the session are Crotty's arrangement of Daniel Freiberg's modish "Manhattan Burn" and Herbolzheimer's of

Dave Grusin

piano
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Grusin's lively "Mountain Dance." Solos on "Burn" are by Ciavarelli, Green and alto

Tyler Richardson

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyler Richardson, on "Dance" by Ciavarelli and Sibley. At a time when most big bands that remain active are running on fumes, it's good to know that there's an ensemble in sunny San Diego that keeps on fighting the good fight, doing its utmost to keep the flame of big-band jazz alive and burning in its wee corner of the world. Here's wishing the Jazz Machine many more prosperous years.

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Track Listing

You Don��t Know What Love Is; Early Autumn; I Didn��t Know What Time It Was; When the Lady Dances; Oleo; Nature Boy; Manhattan Burn; Over the Rainbow; Mountain Dance; Ya Turn Me On Baby; Recon.

Personnel

Ira B. Liss

composer / conductor

Ira B. Liss: leader; Randy Aviles: trumpet; Mark Nicholson: trumpet; Peter Green: trumpet; Collin Reichow: trumpet; Carlos Roldan: trumpet (2, 6-8); Christopher Hollyday: alto, soprano sax; Tyler Richardson: alto sax; Richard McQuane: alto, soprano sax (2, 6-8); David Castel del Oro: tenor sax, flute; Joel Ginsberg: tenor, soprano sax; Ross Rizzo Jr.: baritone sax; Gary Bucher: trombone; David Bernard: trombone; David Murray: trombone; Tim Hall: bass trombone; Steve Sibley: piano; Alex Ciavarelli: guitar; Lance Jeppesen: bass; Charlie McGhee: drums; Mark Lamson: percussion; Janet Hammer: vocals. Special guest artists �C Bob Mintzer: tenor sax; Eric Marienthal: alto sax; Dean Brown: guitar: Holly Hofmann: alto flute.

Album information

Title: Tasty Tunes | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Tall Man

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