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The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel: The Pugilist

By Jack Bowers
January 1, 2022
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The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel: The Pugilist

No, drummer

Bernie Dresel

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Bernie Dresel hasn't taken a day gig at the Los Angeles-area Better Business Bureau; the BBB in front of his name stands for Bernie's Big Band or Bernin' Big Band or Bernie's Bernin' Band or something like that. It's really hard to say, as the band's full name isn't spelled out anywhere, even on Dresel's web site or Wikipedia. Be that as it may, the important point to keep in mind is that the BBB comes out swingin' on its third album, The Pugilist, and doesn't let up through the end of an earnest and aggressive session that sets ablaze four well-known standards and ten original compositions including one apiece by

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, Michael Jackson and Frank Zappa.

In other words, 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. The first question Dresel likely asks when presented with a new chart is, "Does it swing?" On The Pugilist, every chart aces that inquiry with room to spare.

James McMillen

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">James McMillen wrote three of the newbies, Andrew Neu two, Nan Schwartz the clever Covid send-up, "Positive for the Blues" (on which trumpeter

Carl Saunders

trumpet
1942 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Saunders, among the world's uncontested monarchs of the horn, shows his versatility by singing and scatting, and doing both with his usual unflappable command).

Speaking of versatility, Dresel not only commandeers the drum kit as well as anyone in the business, he also tap dances on the Cole Porter evergreen, "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." As for Saunders, he proves the trumpet remains his most formidable weapon with crackling solos on the Al Dubin/Harry Warren standard "Lulu's Back in Town," "Neu's lively "Running and Jumping" and breezy "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" Baritone saxophonist

Brian Williams

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Williams wrote the mysteriously titled "100R 200N," which calls to mind the

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman Herd's classic "Four Brothers," this one featuring a two-tenor shout-out between

Rob Lockart

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Lockart and

Tom Luer

clarinet, bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Luer. That is followed by the second of the album's Latin-centered numbers, McMillen's "Rico's Rowdy Rhumba" (the other is

Jack Cooper

woodwinds
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Cooper's tasteful arrangement of "Lulu's Back in Town").

As one might expect from Dresel's savvy ensemble, McMillen's buoyant arrangement of the Gershwin brothers' "I Got Rhythm" is among the album's high spots, enriched in large measure by

Kirsten Edkins

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Kirsten Edkins' luminous alto solo. The surprises continue with an uncharacteristically explosive version of "La Vie en Rose," and Williams' burly baritone leading the way on an upbeat reading of Davis' "All Blues" (on which trumpeter

Jamie Hovorka

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jamie Hovorka adds a gleaming solo). The trombone section takes charge on "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?," as does Saunders who never fails to deliver the whole package. Rounding out the generally tasteful menu (as if that weren't already enough) are McMillen's feisty curtain-raiser, "The Pugilist" (crisp solo by trombonist

Ryan Dragon

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Dragon), Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," McMillen's free-spirited "World Premiere" (

Alan Kaplan

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Kaplan, trombone) and the funky finale, Zappa's clangorous "Zomby Woof" (solos by Lockart and guitarist

Andrew Synowiec

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Synowiec, vocal by

Anthony Bonsera

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Bonsera). Well, even someone as dexterous and talented as Dresel should be granted one misstep. At least he reserves the most unsavory morsel for last.

If The Pugilist can't put wings on your feet or a smile on your face, perhaps you'd best check your pulse to make sure it's still beating. Better still, take a look at the jacket cover on which Dresel (horn-rimmed glasses and all) is pictured wearing a robe and boxing gloves and trying to look as menacing as possible. If that doesn't elicit a smile, nothing will. As to the album, four stars for the impeccable teamwork and unremitting swing—all the more remarkable as everything including solos was recorded "virtually" in musicians' homes—and another half-star for the shining lights named Dresel and Saunders.

Learn more about our star rating system

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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