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The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra: The Third Quarter

By Jack Bowers
January 9, 2021
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The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra: The Third Quarter

Any big-band album that opens with a rollicking Four Brothers-style saxophone soli is all but guaranteed to capture one's ear and interest. As it turns out, the buoyant "Fill in the Gap," on which the sax section sparkles, is but the first of many sonic delights on The Third Quarter, a marvelous new CD by Philadelphia-based composer / arranger

Len Pierro

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Len Pierro and his world-class Jazz Orchestra. Simply put, there are no discernible blemishes to mar a bright and picturesque tour de force that is exemplary from start to finish. To restate that appraisal in layman's terms, Pierro can really write!—and his band can really play!

"Fill in the Gap" is the first of eight sharp and engaging compositions by Pierro, which yield no ground to the durable standard "If I Should Lose You" or to well-traveled jazz touchstones by

Fats Waller

piano
1904 - 1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller ("Jitterbug Waltz") and

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron ("Voyage"), which Pierro also arranged. In fact, impressive as those masterworks are, it is Pierro's strong and resourceful themes that repeatedly earn top honors. "As We Know It" and "No More, No Less" show he has mastered the art of the ballad, while "In Earnest," "The Third Quarter" and "Uncle Pep" embody licks and phrases that surely would have made

Frank Foster

saxophone
1928 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Foster,

Marty Paich

composer / conductor
1925 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Marty Paich or

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti smile while gladdening the heart of ninety-six-year-old

Sammy Nestico

composer / conductor
1924 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Nestico, who knows a special tune when he hears it.

Pierro also wrote the melodious mid-tempo "Time to Go" (a showpiece for pianist

Tom Lawton

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Lawton) and well- grooved "Cottage 2" (ditto for flugel

Joe Anderson

multi-instrumentalist

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Anderson). Speaking of soloists,

Chris Farr

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Farr shines on soprano ("As We Know It") and tenor saxophones ("Uncle Pep"), as do trumpeter

Tony DeSantis

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony DeSantis ("In Earnest") and alto

Matt Vashlishan

saxophone, alto
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Vashlishan ("No More, No Less"). Add to that admirable list Philly's legendary tenor

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry McKenna who dazzles with Farr on "If I Should Lose You" and with Lawton on "Voyage." Vashlishan and DeSantis share solo credits on "Fill in the Gap," Vashlishan, DeSantis, Farr and trombonist

Rob Stoneback

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Stoneback on "The Third Quarter," flugel

George Rabbai

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">George Rabbai and soprano

Mike Cemprola

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Cemprola on "Jitterbug Waltz." Many of the orchestra members hail from one of jazz's lesser-known hotbeds, Pennsylvania's Delaware Gap area (think

Phil Woods

saxophone, alto
1931 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Woods), and each one is an accomplished soloist and industrious team player.

Few big-band albums in recent memory have been more pleasurable to hear and evaluate than The Third Quarter. With Pierro's irrepressible charts setting the course and his masterful orchestra giving them life, the session fairly bristles with energy and enthusiasm, amplified by the dexterity and magnetism of Pierro's creative power. Easily recommended.

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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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Len Pierro Concerts

Sep 18 Thu

The Len Pierro Jazz Trio

The Ways Restaurant & Brewery
Glenside, PA

Sep 20 Sat

The Len Pierro Jazz Trio

Human Robot
Jenkintown, PA

Sep 20 Sat

The A to Z Band

The Royal Glenside
Glenside, PA

Sep 25 Thu

The Len Pierro Jazz Trio

The Ways Restaurant & Brewery
Glenside, PA

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