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Horizons Jazz Orchestra: Plays the Music of Lee Harris: The Brite Side

By Edward Blanco
April 16, 2020
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Horizons Jazz Orchestra: Plays the Music of Lee Harris: The Brite Side

The south Florida-based Horizons Jazz Orchestra (HJO), present their debut album, The Brite Side, performing five original Lee Harris compositions and also five standards sporting fresh new Harris arrangements, for a compelling package of big band music that is a pleasure to hear. Founded in 2016 by Stan Kenton alumnus

Dennis Noday

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dennis Noday, and former baritone saxophonist & arranger (in the New York studio scene during the 1960s) Lee Harris, the group was known as the Superband before morphing into its new identity.

Since its inception the band has leaned on playing Harris compositions and arrangements, so it was only natural that the debut album be dedicated to the late leader Harris, which is why the title indicates that the HJO "plays the music of Lee Harris."

The band comprises top-list players from the south Florida area and, for this recording, includes among the cast of players

Jonathan Joseph

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Joseph, a drummer from the

Billy Cobham

drums
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Cobham school of fusion drumming, and west coast trumpeter

Carl Saunders

trumpet
1942 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Saunders, one of the finest horn men in the business. These two "outsiders," along with local talent and an original member of the Superband, stalwart saxophonist

Billy Ross

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Ross, add an additional sparkle to the musical shine this group already produced.

The album opens with the first original, "Red Apple Sweet," featuring producer and trombonist

Michael Balogh

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Balogh, keyboardist

Gary Mayone

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Mayone and Joseph pounding the drums into submission. Offering a new creative arrangement from Harris, the classic "Pure Imagination," with Saunders on flugelhorn, sounds majestic. On the stunning "The Runner," the brass section comes alive in displaying what the big band sound should sound like.

On the expansive, direction-changing title-track, the band sheds its Kenton-like style for a more progressive big-band sound, on what turns out to be the most ambitious Harris chart of the set at almost ten-minutes in length and containing a bit of fusion and funk.

The unforgettable Gershwin tune "Summertime," in a superb Harris arrangement which features saxophonist

Scott Klarman

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Klarman on a brilliant soprano solo, provides a new version and memorable highlight of the album.

Leonard Bernstein

composer / conductor
1918 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Leonard Bernstein's immortal "Maria" undergoes another Harris re-write, giving this all-time favorite some new life. Noday takes the spotlight with his high-pitched trumpet as tenor saxophonist

Joe Mileti

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Mileti delivers a tender accompaniment.

The

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn composition "A Train Bossa" caps off an exciting session of music, with Ross on the tenor and Saunders's trumpet voice bringing the music to a close. What a delicious plate of big band music, as The Brite Side truly succeeds in serving quite a dish of powerful and memorable swinging big band music, deeply-rooted in the Kenton tradition, a plus for any ensemble.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Red Apple Sweet; Pure Imagination; After You��ve Gone, Finally; The Runner; Fourth Dimension; The Brite Side; The Sound; Summertime; Maria; ��A�� Train Bossa.

Personnel

Horizons Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

Lee Harris

composer / conductor

Michael Balogh

trombone

Dennis Noday

trumpet

Ryan Chapman

trumpet

Jack Wengrosky

flugelhorn

Fernando Ferrarone

trumpet

Chaim Rubinov

trumpet

Carl Saunders

trumpet

Scott Klarman

saxophone, tenor

Mike Brignola

saxophone, baritone

Billy Ross

saxophone, tenor

Joe Mileti

saxophone, tenor

Randy Emerick

saxophone, baritone

Jason Pyle

trombone

Tom Lacy

trombone

Steven Mayer

trombone

Luke Williams

guitar

Gary Mayone

keyboards

Ranses Colon

bass

Jonathan Joseph

drums

George Mazzeo

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Jonathan Joseph, George Mazzeo: drums

Album information

Title: Plays the Music of Lee Harris: The Brite Side | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced

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