Bob Florence Limited Edition – Legendary – MAMA Records MAA 1037, 71:21 *****:
(Woodwinds: Don Shelton, Kim Richmond, Tom Peterson, Jeff Driskill, Bob Efford, Bob Carr
Rusty Higgins; Trombones: Alex Iles, Bob McChesney, Scott Whitfield, Dave Ryan, Jacques Voyemant, Craig Ware [Bass trombone]; Trumpets: Carl Saunders, Pete DeSiena, Steve Huffsteter, Ron Stout, Larry Lunetta; Guitar: Larry Koonse. Piano: Alan Broadbent, Bob Florence (Track 9 only); Bass: Trey Henry; Drums: Peter Erskine)
Legendary is a tribute to the work and talent of the late Bob Florence. Bob started piano lessons at the age of three and was classically trained. He moved into jazz in his college years. The project, Legendary, was commissioned by Luci Janssen. Bob Florence arranged, composed and put the project together. He passed away May 15, 2008 before its completion. A committee of musicians he worked with completed the project. These musicians are top class artists and very familiar names in the jazz world. The album was recorded October 22nd, and 23rd 2008 at Capitol Records, Los Angeles, California. The album is listed as the last edition of the Bob Florence Limited Edition.
The Bob Florence Limited Edition is not just another dance or big band. The band is sometimes symphonic in nature and also swings. The soloists are profound. It is truly an ear-exercising experience of innovation in music with melodies, rhythms and counter-rhythms fueled by 23 wonderful musicians. Bob Florence’s arrangements are spectacular. Four of the tracks are Bob Florence compositions mixed in with some reworked standards. “A Train” is a most interesting arrangement of Ellington’s wonderful standard. “Suicide is Painless” is that so-familiar theme of the TV series “Mash” written by Johnny Mandel with Bob Florence’s innovative touch. “Luci” is an expression of gratitude by Bob to Luci Janssen, executive producer. “Luci” has trumpeter Carl Saunders playing the message. Pianist Alan Broadbent fills in for Bob Florence on this album where Bob would have been playing. Broadbent, truly a unique performer, starts out slowly in a long intro then starts swinging to be joined by the rest of the band in a beautiful rendition of “You Must Believe in Spring”, a Michel Legrand composition. The last track is “Auld Lang Syne”. This is a very emotional piece when you learn how it was produced. It starts with a soulful quiet piano solo by Bob Florence and through technology the band joins him quietly and respectfully to a performance that left me in tears.
This album has great sound and is very listenable. It portrays a number of different emotions in its style and movement. Kim Richmond edited the original scores. Rich Breen performed the engineering and mixing. The committee completing the project was Kim Richmond, Carl Saunders, Don Shelton and Tom Peterson who coordinated the work. It was a total effort of all working together with MAMA records to put out a quality tribute to the wonderful Bob Florence. The album has extensive and very interesting liner notes written by Phil Norman, a saxophonist/leader of a tentet in Los Angeles and was a protégé of Bob Florence.
TrackList:
1. A Train
2. I’m All Smiles
3. Suicide is Painless
4. Fluffy
5. Geezerhood
6. Limited Edition Express
7. Luci
8. You Must Believe in Spring
9. Auld Lang Syne
— Tim Taylor
