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Pony Boy All-Star Big Band: This Is Now

By Jack Bowers
November 12, 2024
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This Is Now is a venturous and engaging concert date by the Pony Boy All-Star Big Band, taped in May 2024 at Boxley's jazz club in North Bend, Washington. Pony Boy refers to the band's label, Pony Boy Records, while the term All-Star is, as always, in the eye (and ear) of the beholder. Clearly, there are some stars in this firmament, not least of which is drummer and music director

Greg Williamson

drums
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Williamson. Trumpeter

Jay Thomas

saxophone, tenor
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Thomas has long been a star on the West Coast, as have alto saxophonist

Travis Ranney

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Travis Ranney, baritone

Matso Limtiaco

arranger
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Matso Limtiaco, trombonist

David Marriott, Jr.

trombone
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">David Marriott, Jr. and pianist

John Hansen

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hansen, to name only a handful.

That is not meant to discount the others, each of whom deserves sizable praise for the album's admirable substance and spirit. There are, for example, splendid charts by trumpeter

Keith Karns

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Karns ("All the Things I'm Not," "I Fall in Love Too Easily") and trombonist

Conner Eisenmenger

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Conner Eisenmenger (his compositions "Inlet" and the concert's powerful opener, "Harrod's Creek") to reinforce those by Limtiaco and Williamson. Limtiaco wrote and arranged "Sabermetic Samba" and scored

Jerry Bergonzi

saxophone, tenor
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Bergonzi's "The Ray," while Williamson arranged

Tony Williams

drums
1945 - 1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Williams' "Geo Rose," which seals the performance, and the first and last movements (21st Century," "Mr. X") of

Mordy Ferber

" data-original-title="" title="">Mordy Ferber's seductive three-part Ferber Suite. Eisenmenger arranged the second movement, "Rabin."

Williamson's drum set is in the forefront on most numbers (with superb brush work on "All the Things"), and he is invariably on the mark, as are his rhythm mates, Hansen and bassist

Heather Chriscaden

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Heather Chriscaden. Limtiaco and Thomas deliver perceptive solos on "All the Things," while Eisenmenger is impeccably showcased on "I Fall in Love Too Easily," Williamson and tenor

Chris Fagan

saxophone
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Fagan on the alluring "Inlet." Tenor

Kandin Neri

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Kandin Neri shine with Thomas on "Sabermetric Samba," Marriott with tenor

Steve Treseler

saxophone, tenor
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Treseler on "The Ray," two of the concert's several highlights. The gritty "Geo Rose," a superb closer, highlights impressive solos by Hansen, Fagan, soprano

Tracy Knoop

" data-original-title="" title="">Tracy Knoop and trombonist

Greg Schroeder

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Schroeder before its final fade. As a bonus, the album includes CD/DVD versions of Williamson's stellar arrangements of Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein's "I Won't Dance" and the lovely South American standard, "Bahia."

This Is Now is a pleasurable listening experience from start to finish.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Harrod's Creek; Sabermetric Samba; 21st Century; Rabin; Mr. X; All The Things I��m Not; Inlet; I Fall In Love Too Easily; The Ray; Geo Rose;. I Won't Dance; Bahia.

Personnel

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

Greg Williamson

drums

Jay Thomas

saxophone, tenor

John Hansen

piano

David Marriott, Jr.

trombone

Dan Marcus

trombone

Keith Karns

trumpet

Steve Treseler

saxophone, tenor

Chris Fagan

saxophone

Kandin Neri

saxophone

Heather Chriscaden

bass, acoustic

Brian Shaw

trumpet

Additional Instrumentation

Saxophones: Tracy Knoop; Travis Ranney; Steve Treseler; Chris Fagan; Kandin Neri; Matso Limtiaco. Trumpets: Mike Mines; Brian Shaw; Keith Karns; Jay Thomas. Trombones: David Marriott; Conner Eisenmenger; Greg Schroeder; David Bentley; Dan Marcus; Audrey Stangland. John Hansen: piano; Heather Chriscaden: bass; Greg Williamson: drums.

Album information

Title: This Is Now | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Pony Boy Records

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