Media – JM 1029, 71:32 ****:
(Phil Woods, alto sax on tracks 1-7; Bob Lark, ensemble director and
Flugelhorn, track 4; the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble – 19 members)
Few opportunities must be more exciting and challenging to a college jazz
band then playing in a world famous venue with a jazz master as a guest
soloist. That opportunity was provided to the DePaul University Jazz
Ensemble by Jazzed Media’s Graham Carter, in May 2006, over three nights.
Recorded on location at Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase in Chicago,
Swingchronicity passes any college performance “exam” with flying colors.
The band is tight, Phil Woods as always swings like mad, and the recording
quality of this CD is impeccable. Largely made up of standards such as I’m
Getting Sentimental Over You, Stockholm Sweetnin’, and Along Came Betty. De
Paul University is also represented by its member, saxophonist, Lena Lien,
whose Norwegian Summer gives her and trumpeter, Justin Surdyn, solo time.
Other ensemble members are given solos on five of the ten tracks. None
disappoint!
In a time period when much of our future jazz talent is incubated in
University programs, it is a distinct service provided by Jazzed Media to
give an established college jazz band a major label jazz release to
treasure. Whether or not any of the members go on to future recording
careers of their own, they will always have the honor knowing that they
recorded in a world famous jazz venue, led by their well-known band
director, Bob Lark, and backed by one of the all time alto greats,
Phil Woods. Swingchronicity should be required listening for any major college big band contemplating a CD release of their own. It provides a standard for which they should strive.
TrackList: I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, Stockholm Sweetnin’, Never Let
Me Go, It’s You or No One, Along Came Betty, The Quintessence, Rosenwind,
Norwegian Summer, Skittish, Recessions
– Jeff Krow
