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Nikos Chatzitsakos: Tiny Big Band!

By Jack Bowers
June 28, 2022
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Bassist

Nikos Chatzitsakos

bass, acoustic
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Nikos Chatzitsakos' Tiny Big Band, formed in 2018, is basically a nonet with vocalist

Lian Zac

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Lian Zac added on three of the album's eleven tracks, trumpeter

Robert Mac Vega-Dowda

flugelhorn

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Mac Vega-Dowda sitting in on five, vibraphonist

Vid Jamnik

vibraphone
b.1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Vid Jamnik on four, guitarist

" data-original-title="" title="">Gianmarco Ferri on two. The accent is on straight-ahead contemporary jazz, exemplified by seven standards from the Great American Songbook and a quartet of handsome themes whose jazz credentials are exemplary.

The ensemble plays with assurance and enthusiasm, investing Chatzitsakos' charts (he arranged every number) with an ample supply of intensity. Soloists are similarly engaged, even though one could never pick any of them out of a lineup. Much of the album's charm rests on Chatziksakos' choice of material, which is, by and large, splendid. It is hard to fumble the ball when running with such evergreens as "Taking a Chance on Love," "Tangerine," "You Stepped Out of a Dream," "Willow Weep for Me" or "Tenderly." Zac sings on another gem, Lerner and Loewe's "I've Grown Accustomed to [His] Face," as well as on the opening and closing numbers,

Mary Lou Williams

piano
1910 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Lou Williams' tongue-twisting "In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee" and

Gigi Gryce

saxophone
1927 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Gigi Gryce's alluring "Social Call," on which guitarist Ferri and pianist

Marco Birro

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Marco Birro sparkle.

Chatzitsakos solos only twice, on "Tangerine" and

Ray Brown

bass, acoustic
1926 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Brown's "Lined with a Groove," being content, for the most part, to anchor the ensemble's dependable rhythm section (Birro and drummer

Karol Zabka

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Karol Zabka). Chatzitsakos' heated arrangement of "You Stepped Out of a Dream" is a highlight (crisp solos by Zabka, trumpeter

Will Mallard

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Mallard and tenor saxophonist

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Baden), as are "Willow," "Good Morning Heartache" (featuring trombonist

Brandon Lin

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Lin) and "Tenderly," played without pause as a three-part mini-suite. Those who prefer their big bands on the lighter side, with an abundance of colorful give-and-take among the sections, should find much to admire in Chatzitsakos' well constructed ensemble.

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Track Listing

In The Land Of Oo-Bla-Dee; Taking A Chance On Love; Somewhere; Tangerine; I��ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face; You Stepped Out Of A Dream; Willow Weep For Me; Good Morning Heartache; Brandon Lin; Lined With A Groove; Social Call.

Personnel

Nikos Chatzitsakos

bass, acoustic

Lian Zac

vocals

Will Mallard

trumpet

Robert Mac Vega-Dowda

flugelhorn

Eric Nakanishi

saxophone, alto

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

Brandon Lin

trombone

Gabe Nekrutman

saxophone, baritone

Karol Zabka

drums

Marco Birro

piano

Gianmarco Ferri

guitar

Vid Jamnik

vibraphone

Lian Zak

Gabriel Nekrutman

saxophone, baritone

Album information

Title: Tiny Big Band! | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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