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| Origin Records - Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra - Portraits and Places  After years of writing for Dave Liebman's Big Band, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Bill Mobley's Smoke Big Band, and the BMI Jazz Composers Orchestra, brassman/composer Scott Reeves launched his own 16-piece jazz orchestra in 2008. Their 2016 debut release, "Portraits and Places, " features seven Reeves originals, along with his arrangement of Jobim's, "Waters of March". He has forged an original compositional style which All About Jazz described as "varied and substantial, ranging from hard bop and Latin oriented themes...to French impressionist influences. His arrangements are restless, full of color, and provide ample solo space...amidst variable underpinnings."The Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra is comprised of some of the best jazz musicians in New York, including saxophonists Steve Wilson (Chick Corea, Mingus Big Band, Dave Holland, Christian McBride), Tim Armacost (Bruce Barth, Billy Hart), Rob Middleton (Birdland Big Band, BMI Jazz Orchestra) and Jay Brandford (Jimmy Heath, Oliver Lake, Dave Liebman, Smithsonian Masterworks Orchestra); trumpeters Seneca Black (lead with Wynton Marsalis' Lincoln Center Jazz Band & Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra), Andy Gravish (Toshiko Akiyoshi, Buddy Rich), and Bill Mobley (Donald Brown, James Williams, Geoff Keezer); trombonists Tim Sessions (Dave Liebman, Clark Terry & Bob Mintzer big bands) and Matt Haviland (Illinois Jacquet, Vanguard Orchestra, Charlie Persip); pianist Jim Ridl (Pat Martino, Dave Liebman, Woody Herman); bassist Todd Coolman (Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz & James Moody); and drummer Andy Watson (Jim Hall, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jon Hendricks). Scott Reeves is a trombonist, alto flugelhornist, composer and educator. He has performed or recorded with groups such as the Dave Liebman Big Band, Bill Mobley's Smoke Big Band, the Oliver Lake Big Band, the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, the Vanguard Orchestra, Manhattan Bones and his own big band and quintets. Scott also performed at leading jazz clubs in Italy, Portugal and Japan. In addition to his performing and writing activities, Scott is currently Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at the City College of New York (CUNY) and was also on the faculty of the Juilliard School. His textbooks on jazz improvisation, "Creative Jazz Improvisation" and "Creative Beginnings, " both published by Prentice-Hall, are widely used in leading college jazz curriculums. TRACKS, TIMES, PLAYERS The Soulful Mr. Williams 9:51 3 'n 2 5:24 Osaka June 9:08 Aguas de Marco 9:52 L & T Suite Movement 1: Who Wants to Dance 5:20 Movement 2: A Trombonist's Tale 6:10 Movement 3: Hip Kitty) 4:39 Last Call 6:37 PLAYERS: Scott Reeves: conductor, composer, arranger, alto flugelhorn Seneca Black: trumpet, flugelhorn Nathan Eklund: trumpet, flugelhorn Bill Mobley: trumpet, flugelhorn Andy Gravish: trumpet, flugelhorn Steve Wilson: alto, soprano sax, flute Vito Chiavuzzo: alto sax, flute Rob Middleton: tenor sax, clarinet Tim Armacost: tenor sax, clarinet Jay Brandford: baritone sax, bass clarinet (1, 4) Terry Goss: baritone sax, bass clarinet (2, 3, 5-8) Tim Sessions: trombone; Matt McDonald: trombone Matt Haviland: trombone Max Seigel: bass trombone Jim Ridl: piano; Todd Coolman: bass Andy Watson: drums Sara Serpa: voice (3, 4) Emi Miyajima Nobe, Yuzuki Nobe: Japanese dialogue (3) EARLY REVIEWS: A sharp and impressive debut for Reeves and his ensemble. Encore? Yes, please, and ASAP. A keen ear for melody, harmony and counterpoint, and Reeves earns high marks here, as his compositions are sophisticated yet accessible, his arrangements scrupulously burnished and invariably engaging. -Jack Bowers, All About Jazz 4/5 Stars Jaw dropping stuff throughout. A flugelhorn player that has earned his spurs as an arranger and conductor while laboring in the vineyards for a long time for cats as disparate as Dave Liebman and Bob Brookmeyer, he knows his jazz and thanks those long gone for the music that inspired him as well as those still around that taught him. -Chris Spector, Midwest Record write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |