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Andrew Neu: The Big Band Side of Andrew Neu

By Jack Bowers
February 27, 2018
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No matter where The Big Band Side of

Andrew Neu

saxophone
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Neu has been hiding, it's a real kick and genuine pleasure to have it in plain sight and within earshot, especially as Neu has at his side a number of the Los Angeles area's most accomplished sidemen and no less than seven superlative guest artists who lend this already charming debut album even greater allure.

As for Neu, he not only plays a tantalizing tenor sax but wrote (or co-wrote) eight of the album's handsomely designed numbers and arranged all of them, laying bare remarkable ingenuity and awareness in every sphere. Neu's compositions and arrangements, without exception, are bright and charming and swing in the most admirable big-band tradition, as are his adaptations of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love," Ennio Morricone's enchanting theme from the film Cinema Paradiso and Johnny Green / Ed Heyman's classic "Body and Soul."

Neu's guests command the spotlight on seven numbers, starting with trumpeter

Randy Brecker

trumpet
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Brecker's agile solo on Neu's rhythmic "Zebrano." Tenor saxophonist

Bob Mintzer

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Mintzer is front and center with pianist

Andy Langham

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Langham on "Body and Soul," alto

Eric Marienthal

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Marienthal (in superior form) on Neu's warmhearted ballad, "My Dear." Trumpeter

Wayne Bergeron

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Bergeron and

Brian Bromberg

bass
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Bromberg (on piccolo bass) brighten the Latin-leaning "Wasamba," while guest tenor

Gordon Goodwin

composer / conductor
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Gordon Goodwin and trombonist

Paul Young

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Young do likewise for Neu's "Too Much of a Good Thing" and trumpeter

Rick Braun

trumpet
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Rick Braun is impressive on "Cinema Paradiso." Neu solos there, as he does on the genial curtain-raiser, "Juggernaut," "Zebrano," "What Is This Thing" and his free and easy "Blue Sesame."

Guests aside, the band has some splendid soloists of its own. Besides Neu, Langham and Young, they include trumpeter

Michael Stever

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title=""> Michael Stever ("Catwalk"), Stever (who brings to mind the great

Bob Summers

trumpet
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Summers) and alto

Dan Kaneyuki

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Kaneyuki ("What Is This Thing"), trumpeter

Jeff Jarvis

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Jarvis and trombonist

Andrew Lippman

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Lippman ("Blue Sesame"), trumpeter

Anthony Bonsera Jr.

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Bonsera Jr., guitarist Matt Hornbeck and drummer

Jamey Tate

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jamey Tate (the fervent and funky finale, "Alpha Dog"). The band as a whole is letter-perfect from stem to stern with Tate anchoring a sharp and responsive rhythm section to complement the unerring brass and reeds. When an album as exemplary as this one surfaces, the only plausible course of action is to award five stars and hope The Big Band Side is not the last of its breed.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Juggernaut; Zebrano; Catwalk; Body and Soul; My Dear; What Is This Thing Called Love; Wasamba; Too Much Of a Good Thing; Cinema Paradiso; Blue Sesame; Alpha Dog.

Personnel

Andrew Neu

saxophone

Andrew Neu: leader, composer, arranger, tenor sax, flute, alto flute; Anthony Bonsera: trumpet; Jeff Jarvis: trumpet; Jamie Hovorka: trumpet; Mike Stever: trumpet; Jeff Driskill: alto sax; Dan Kaneyuki: alto sax; Vince Trombetta: tenor sax; Ken Fisher: baritone sax; Stephanie O��Keefe: horn (3); Andrew Lippman: trombone; Paul Young: trombone; Charlie Morillas: trombone; Dave Ryan: trombone; Steve Hughes: bass trombone; Andy Langham: piano; Matt Hornbeck: guitar; Craig Fundyga: vibraphone (3); David Hughes: bass; Jamey Tate: drums, percussion. Guest artists �C Randy Brecker: trumpet (2); Bob Mintzer: tenor sax (4); Eric Marienthal: alto sax (5); Wayne Bergeron: trumpet (7); Brian Bromberg: piccolo bass (7), electric bass (11); Gordon Goodwin: tenor sax (8); Rick Braun: trumpet (9).

Album information

Title: The Big Band Side of Andrew Neu | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: CGN Records

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