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| NEW RELEASE: RADAM SCHWARTZ ORGAN BIG BAND “MESSAGE FROM GROOVE AND GW” One of the pacesetters of the jazz organ, Schwartz teams up with drummer David F. Gibson and the Abel Mireles Jazz Exchange Big Band for one of the most swinging and grooving big band albums of the year. RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 15, 2020 RADAM SCHWARTZ ORGAN BIG BAND "MESSAGE FROM GROOVE AND GW" LABEL: (ARABESQUE AJ220) arabesquerecords.com UPC Code: 195081600888 TRACK LISTING 1 Trouble Just Won't Go Away (Radam Schwartz) 2 Blues Minor (John Coltrane) 3 Ain't No Way (Carolyn Franklin) 4 Dig You Like Crazy (Radam Schwartz) 5 What to Do (Abel Mireles) 6 Between the Sheets (Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Jr, Ronald Isley, E. Isley, M. Isley) 7 Message from Groove and GW (Radam Schwartz) 8 A Path To Understanding (Peter Lin) 9 Work Song (Charles Mingus) 10 Von Gott (J.S. Bach) Musicians: Trumpets- Ted Chubb, Ben Hankle, James Cage, Lee Hogans (track 8) Saxophones- Anthony Ware, Danny Raycraft-alto sax, Abel Mireles, Gene Ghee-tenor sax, Ben Kovacs-baritone sax Trombone- Peter Lin, Andrae Murchison Rhythm- Radam Schwartz-organ, Charlie Sigler-guitar, David F. Gibson-drums While a few organists have recorded with big bands (including Jimmy Smith with Oliver Nelson), Schwartz remembers Richard "Groove" Holmes' collaboration with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra. On two of the songs from their album, Holmes took care of playing the bass parts. Seeking to build upon the idea, Radam Schwartz, who is joined by Abel Mireles' Jazz Exchange Orchestra, has become the first organist to play all of the bass lines throughout an entire big band album. He named his new Arabesque release Message From Groove And G.W. after the Holmes/Wilson album. In addition to his organ playing, Schwartz contributed three originals and five of the ten arrangements to the project. He was wise to utilize the Mireles big band for the orchestra is comprised of talented improvisers, 12 of the 13 musicians have opportunities to take concise solos, and their ensembles are filled with plenty of spirit. The opener, "Trouble Just Won't Go Away, " begins with a surprising group vocal before the band immediately engages in some swinging ensembles. The horns riff behind the soloists, creating an irresistible forward momentum and a rousing start to the memorable set. John Coltrane's "Blues Minor" inspires consistently passionate playing including from the leader while "Ain't No Way, " an Aretha Franklin hit arranged by the organist, is in the best tradition of Charles Earland who often turned r&b tunes into swingers. The uptempo "Dig You Like Crazy" has a rapid melody that the band makes sound effortless while Mireles' "What To Do" utilizes a catchy theme that could be part of a movie score for a dramatic action/adventure film. Although he does not dominate the music, often being content to lay down a groove with drummer Gibson, every selection has a soulful Radam Schwartz organ solo. The groove that he lays down with Gibson gives this album a consistently infectious spirit. Guitarist Charlie Sigler (who recalls Wes Montgomery a bit on this selection) and altoist Anthony Ware co-star on a transformation of the Isley Brothers' "Between The Sheets." "Message From Groove And G.W." is a straight ahead blues that one could imagine Groove Holmes and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra performing. After the adventurous "A Path To Understanding, " the set concludes with a particularly inspired version of Charles Mingus' "Work Song" (with excellent solos from trumpeter Ben Hankle, trombonist Andrae Murchison, and altoist Anthony Ware) and Bach's "Von Gott" which is taken as a closing ballad. Born and raised in New York City, Radam Schwartz originally played piano, gaining experience performing with many bands in New Jersey and New York before encountering the organ for the first time at a jam session and falling in love with the instrument. He worked with Arthur Prysock, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Al Hibbler, Russell Malone, Cecil Brooks III, David "Fathead" Newman, and Russell Gunn, appearing on over 40 recordings as a sideman. In addition, the organist has led or co-led nine albums of his own and is a jazz educator, has been an instructor at Jazz House Kids for 13 years, and is the director of the Rutgers Newark Mosaic Jazz Ensemble. Drummer David F. Gibson has an equally impressive resume. He recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Odean Pope's Saxo-phone Choir, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Clark Terry, and is on a video concert with Phil Woods and Joe Sudler's Swing Machine. He has also performed with quite a few major artists including Frank Foster's Loud Minority Big Band, Jimmy Heath, Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine and such organists as Shirley Scott, Jimmy McGriff and Don Patterson. On Message From Groove And G.W., Radam Schwartz and Abel Mireles' Jazz Exchange Big Band not only make musical history but have created a memorable set that is impossible to resist. write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |