Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock Live in Montreux (1982/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Play the Compositions of Herbie Hancock Live in Montreux (1982/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 49:12 minutes | 541 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © MPS

Mel Lewis first teamed up with renowned trumpeter Thad Jones to form the band that later became the legendary Mel Lewis Orchestra. Brimming with some of the best players in the Big Apple, the band quickly found success. They also became the Monday night band at the world’s most famous jazz club, New York’s The Village Vanguard. With Jones’ departure in ’78, Mel took over as leader, shaping the band into “one of the most exciting and innovative big bands ever to grace the jazz scene” (jazz writer Mike Hennessey). This album’s theme is special: pieces by one of the greatest jazz musicians of the last half century, Herbie Hancock, with Bob Mintzer taking on the arranging duties. A quick rundown of who solos: One Finger Snap features John Marshall on trumpet, Lee Robertson’s trombone, and Jim McNeely on piano. Dolphin Dance: Dick Oats alto, John Mosca, trombone. On Wiggle Waggle Richard Perry takes the tenor solo, Jim McNeely the piano, and Carl Gardner the trumpet; the feel is funk with a dash of Latin. With its rich, inventive juxtaposition of French horn, flutes, and horns, the ballad Speak Like A Child is one of Mintzer’s arranging highpoints on the album. Dick Oats takes the emotive soprano solo. Eye Of The Hurricane showcases Gary Pribek’s baritone sax; Joe Lovano’s tenor solo foreshadows his rise to stardom, and Mel gets in his licks with a tempestuous solo. Mike Hennessey calls the music “big band jazz at the highest state of the art” It’s a good call.

Tracklist:
1. Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – One Finger Snap (08:50)
2. Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Dolphin Dance (09:40)
3. Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Wiggle Waggle (08:01)
4. Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Speak Like a Child (10:46)
5. Mel Lewis with The Jazz Orchestra – Eye of the Hurricane (11:52)

Personnel:
Dick Oatts, alto saxophone
Steve Coleman, alto saxophone
Gary Pribek, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Doug Purviance, bass trombone
Earl McIntyre, bass trombone
Dick Oatts, clarinet, flute, soprano saxophone
Joe Lovano, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
Richard Perry, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
Steve Coleman, clarinet, flute, soprano saxophone
Earl Gardner, flugelhorn, trumpet
Joe Mosello, flugelhorn, trumpet
John Marshall, flugelhorn, trumpet
Simo Salminen, flugelhorn, trumpet
Stephanie Fauber, French Horn
John Mosca, trombone
Lee Robertson, trombone
Jim McNeely, piano
Mel Lewis, drums
John Lockwood, bass