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The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra: The Third Quarter

By Edward Blanco
February 7, 2021
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The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra: The Third Quarter

Flourtown, PA native Len Pierro unveils one monster big band album that will be reverberating well beyond the boundaries of Pennsylvania and from radio studios throughout the jazz landscape for quite a long time. The Third Quarter is The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra's recent offering and what an offering of fresh original compositions and re-imagined jazz standards it is.

The 63-year-old saxophonist has produced one heck of an album of traditional straight-ahead swinging jazz that defines what explosive big band music is like. Featuring an army of twenty-five local musicians including legendary sax man

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry McKenna, alto saxophonist

Matt Vashlishan

saxophone, alto
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Vashlishan, tenor saxophonist

Ron Kerber

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Kerber and many others, this ensemble is designed to play with swagger and power and does so gracefully.

The band comes out swinging on the

Phil Woods

saxophone, alto
1931 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Woods-inspired "Fill in the Gap," showcasing the terrific sax section providing but a taste of what's to come. The Ralph Rainger standard "If I Should Lose You" is the perfect piece for McKenna and

Chris Farr

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Farr to display their tenor voices. The beautiful "As We Know It" and "Cottage 2" are two original compositions that light up the day. Other originals the shine all over are the brassy "In Earnest," the slow ballad "Time to Go," and the show piece and title track of the session, "The Third Quarter," where the power and full force of the ensemble is on display featuring Vashlishan, trumpeter

Tony DeSantis

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony DeSantis, trombonist

Rob Stoneback

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Stoneback and Farr on sparkling solos.

One of the more outstanding performances here is by Vashlishan with a superb solo on the gentle and gorgeous original "No More, No Less." The standards come back on

Fats Waller

piano
1904 - 1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz" and on the

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron finale "Voyage" where McKenna and pianist

Tom Lawton

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Lawton combine to bring the curtains down with playful swinging performances that the entire band is guilty of.

Anyone who suggests that big band music is dead, should take one listen to The Third Quarter before reaching such a ridiculous conclusion. For those who appreciate the ensemble sound, there's plenty here to keep your ears popping. Enjoy!

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Track Listing

Fill In The Gap; If I Should Lose You; As We Know It; In Earnest; Time To Go; The Third Quarter; Cottage 2; No More, No Less; Jitterbug Waltz; Uncle Pep; Voyage.

Personnel

Len Pierro

saxophone

Joe Vettori

saxophone, alto

Matt Vashlishan

saxophone, alto

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor

Chris Farr

saxophone, tenor

Mark Allen

saxophone, baritone

Mike Cemprola

saxophone, alto

Skip Spratt

saxophone, tenor

Ron Kerber

saxophone, tenor

Jonathan Shaw

trumpet

Jay Webb

trumpet

George Rabbai

trumpet

Tony DeSantis

trumpet

Daniel Wright

trumpet

Joe Anderson

multi-instrumentalist

Fred Scott

trombone

Rob Stoneback

trombone

Dan Tommasone

vocals

Bob Suttman

trombone

Dave Cianci

trombone

Additional Instrumentation

Pat Mercuri: guitar; Kevin Hanson: guitar; Tom Lawton: piano; Madison Rast: bass; Lew Leabman: drums; Grant MacAvoy: drums

Album information

Title: The Third Quarter | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: WalkingPath Records

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