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Jeff Benedict Big Band - The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful Jeff Benedict is currently a Professor Emeritus of Music at the California State University, Los Angeles. He holds a B.M. and an M.A. from the Lamont School of Music and a D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a student of Harvey Pittel. He is a 30-year veteran of the music scene in Los Angeles. In 2014 he formed the Jeff Benedict Big Big Band, which released a critically acclaimed CD Holmes on the Tapestry Records label. His group with Dave Askren, The Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict Quartet, has recently released a CD Paraphernalia with percussionist Chris Garcia Percussion and bassist Jonathan Pintoff. Their 2017 release Come Together with Joe Bagg on Hammond B3 and Paul Romaine on Drums was favorably reviewed and reached #1 on the RMR Chart. In 2013, he produced the CD Among Friends by the Orion Saxophone Quartet, featuring guest Gary Foster. He has also recorded two albums under his own name on the Resurgent Music record label, Castle Creek Shuffle and Standard Fare, and has produced a Latin-jazz recording for Sea Breeze Records, Rhubumba with Special Guest Bobby Shew. He is also featured on recordings by the Dave Askren Quartet, the Hawk-Richard Jazz Orchestra, and by the The Bobby Rodriguez Big Band. He has performed with many jazz artists including Toshiko Akiyoshi, Randy Brecker, Nick Brignola, Eddie Daniels, Carl Fontana, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Hubert Laws, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Diane Schuur, Lew Soloff, Billy Taylor, Mel Torme, Bill Watrous, Mark Whitfield and Joe Williams. He is also in demand as a classical recitalist and clinician and performs regularly with the Orion Saxophone Quartet. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Aspen Festival Orchestra and the Tanglewood Fellowship Orchestra. The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful is the second CD by the Jeff Benedict Big Big Band. A diverse collection of compositions and arrangements ranging from the straight-ahead title track to the New Orleans Second-line Mighty Dollar, this recording reflects the influences of Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Cannonball Adderley, and Phil Woods. The CD features four original compositions by Benedict and five of his arrangements. The theme that binds the selections together on this recording is a “throwback” to the 1970s – when the big band was frequently heard in T.V. and movie scores, and many of which were written by big-band jazz musicians like Quincy Jones and Pat Williams. The first track, one of Benedict’s original compositions, is entitled Moonscape. The tune is layered on a simple but catchy bass riff accompanied by a reggae-inspired drum groove, reflecting the influence of Michael Brecker and “Steps Ahead.” It is sort of a minor blues with a bridge – a good backdrop for soulful solos by Paul McKee (trombone) and Jeff Ellwood (tenor saxophone), and when it finally becomes a shuffle, Dave Askren (guitar) takes off his shoes, puts his feet up, and cruises to the end. Second is Benedict’s arrangement of the Miles Davis tune Nardis. Miles wrote Nardis for a 1958 Cannonball Adderley’s record called Portrait of Cannonball. The inspiration for this arrangement came from the funky styling of Cannonball’s 1960’s recordings. The original swing groove is mixed with a funkier section that is sprinkled throughout. The Fotomat Song (Someday My Prince Will Come) is an arrangement of the famous Disney song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The original waltz feel is converted into a samba, and it features Paul McKee on trombone and Benedict on Soprano Saxophone. Of course, nobody remembers Fotomat – film and film cameras are a thing of the past, but the reference’s obscurity is part of the fun. PERSONNEL & TRACKS: 1. Moonscape 6:41 Jeff Benedict, Maroon Creek Music Paul McKee, Trombone Jeff Ellwood, Tenor Saxophone Dave Askren, Guitar 2. Nardis 4:52 Miles Davis, Jazz Horn Music Arr. Jeff Benedict Paul McKee, Trombone Jeff Hellmer, Piano Jeff Benedict, Alto Saxophone 3. The Fotomat Song 5:04 (Someday My Prints Will Come) Frank Churchill, Bourne Co Arr . Jeff Benedict Paul McKee, Trombone Jeff Benedict, Soprano Saxophone 4. The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful 7:01 Jeff Benedict, Maroon Creek Music Jeff Hellmer, Piano Paul McKee, Trombone Charlie Richard, Baritone Saxophone Jeff Ellwood, Tenor Saxophone 5. Armadillo Research 9:15 Jeff Benedict, Maroon Creek Music Jeff Benedict, Alto Saxophone Paul McKee, Trombone 6. Ant Dance 6:20 Jeff Benedict, Maroon Creek Music Jeff Benedict, Alto Saxophone Dave Askren, Guitar 7. Cheek to Cheek 9:31 Irving Berlin, Berlin Irving Music Corp Arr . Jeff Benedict The Saxophone Section Jeff Hellmer, Piano 8. The Mighty Dollar 6:31 David Arnay, Studio N Music Arr. Jeff Benedict Jeff Ellwood, Tenor Saxophone Jeff Benedict, Alto Saxophone 9. Tom and Jerry 8:30 Sandy Megas, Alexander C Megas Jeff Benedict, Alto Saxophone Brian Bettger, Trumpet 10. Hikky Burr 4:18 Quincy Jones, Makalota Music Arr. Jeff Benedict Jeff Ellwood, Tenor Saxophone Dave Askren, Guitar Steve Hawk, Trumpet |
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