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Bernie Dresel: The Pugilist

By C. Michael Bailey
July 14, 2022
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Track review of "Lulu's Back In Town"

Jack Bowers, All About Jazz's large ensemble authority, previously considered this entire recording, The Pugilist, remarking that ..."if swing is your thing, you've come to the right place, as that is what Dresel and his elite group of sun-baked sidemen (and two women) do best and most often." One of the elements that ensures "swing" is the attentive and informed arrangement of these often sprawling pieces. Dr.

Jack Cooper

woodwinds
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Cooper is known for his insightful and creative arrangements of percussion-driven music. Michael Waldrop's Origin Suite (Origin Records, 2018) and Cooper's own Mists—Charles Ives For Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts Records, 2014) and Dig Band Reflections of Cole Porter (Summit Records, 2003) are examples. He contributes an arrangement for "Lulu's Back In Town" here for The BBB. Written by Al Dubin (words) and Harry Warren (music) in 1935 and included in Lloyd Bacon's film Broadway Gondolier (Warner Bros., 1935), the song was popularized in a recording by

Fats Waller

piano
1904 - 1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller for Victor Records.

What Cooper and Dresel do is supercharge the warhorse, directing Dresel's brass and beat in a Latin direction, opening the piece up for tight solos by trumpeter

Carl Saunders

trumpet
1942 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Saunders and tenor saxophonist

Rob Lockart

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Lockart. The ensemble playing is brash and swinging. Robust staccato figures populate Cooper's vision and at the same time provide Dresel plenty of drumming real estate to drive through.

Jack Cooper continues to loom large in big band jazz.

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Track Listing

The Pugilist; Running and Jumping; Lulu��s Back in Town; Don��t Stop ��Til You Get Enough; You��d Be So Nice to Come Home To; World Premiere; Positive for the Blues; 100R 2Noon; Rico��s Rowdy Rhumba; I Got Rhythm; La Vie en Rose; All Blues; What Could Possibly Go Wrong?; Zomby Woof.

Personnel

Bernie Dresel

drums

Anthony Bonsera

trumpet

Dave Richards

saxophone

Jamie Hovorka

trumpet

Jeff Bunnell

trumpet

Carl Saunders

trumpet

Brian Scanlon

trumpet

Kirsten Edkins

saxophone, tenor

Rob Lockart

clarinet

Tom Luer

clarinet, bass

Alan Kaplan

trombone

Ryan Dragon

trombone

James McMillen

trombone

Juliane Gralle

trombone, bass

Andrew Synowiec

guitar

Djordje Stjiepovic

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Kirsten Edkins, Rob Lockart: saxophones.

Album information

Title: The Pugilist | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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