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| Title: | Welcome to the CD Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Welcome to COOKIE |
| Moderator: | COOKIE::ROLLOW |
|
| Created: | Mon Feb 17 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Mar 03 1989 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1517 |
| Total number of notes: | 13349 |
1378.0. "The Big Band Hit Parade" by VEEJAY::ECTOR (Nite of the living Cruizoids) Mon Nov 07 1988 10:43
In deference to Kunzel, Telarc, et. al., I'm gonna give this particular
disc its' own note, since it ultimately deserves it.
Over the last 6-7 years I've really grown to love much of the 30's/40's
big band "hits." To a previous generation, they're called standards,
but to me, they're still new, vibrant & exciting. Since the dawn
of the digital age, there've been a few attempts to recapture the
original, intended spirit of these tunes, which were really (I'm
just guessing now) heard best in concert halls amidst crowds & dancing.
Discs like "In the Digital Mood," a GRP cd by the Glenn Miller Orch
(or what's left of this fine group), attempted duplication (including
mistakes) of the studio recordings. This disc is fine, but because
of the technology, sounds a bit to bright & brash - it's as if you're
sitting or standing directly in front of the horn section. Well,
I think I've discovered the disc that does it "right."
Telarc, Kunzel & the Cincinnati Pops Big Band Orchestra did a bash
last spring and backed up the following artists:
Doc Severinsen - Trumpet; Dave Brubeck - Piano; Buddy Morrow -
Trombone; Gerry Mulligan - Baritone Sax; Eddie Daniels - clarinet;
Ray Brown - Bass; Ed Shaughnessy - Drums; octogenerian, Cab Calloway
- vocals.
The titles on the disc, which fleshes out at around 68 minutes,
are:
In The Mood, Sentimental Journey, One O'Clock Jump, Caravan, Let's
Dance, You Made Me Love You, Woodchoppers Ball, Take the 'A' Train,
"Sing, Sing, Sing," Begin the Beguine, I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over
You, "Well, Git It!," Artistry In Rhythm, Moonlight Serenade, St.
James Infirmary and a 9 minute version of "When the Saints Go Marchin'
In," which features each soloist.
I lucked out & picked it up for $14.37, but even if you have to
pay $15-17 for it, it's worth the change. Tommy Newsome, Jeff Tyzik
& one other guy whose name escapes me do the arrangements. Calloway
only sings on St. James & Saints, all the rest are strictly
instrumental. The original artists, if alive today (I know a couple
that still are) would have been proud. Kenton, for sure, would be
very proud of this arrangement of "Artistry In Rhythm," his theme,
which many say, caused the death of the big band era as dance music.
What really makes this disc so exciting is the way in which it was
recorded. Apparently, after the "live" concert was over & the crowd
left, microphones were set up throughout the hall & the concert
re-done. It was recorded in 24 tracks, but except for the final
mix/edit, everything was 1 take only. When it opened with "In The
Mood," I felt as if I were in the audience or towards the back of
a vast hall, but without the echo-ey sound you'd normally experience.
All the wind instruments were crisp sounding, without the overly
bright highs - except for twice when "Doc" hit some mean high notes
on purpose.
The only thing missing from "You Made me Love You" was Judy Garland.
I'm really surprised that Telarc didn't get Liza Minelli to do a
vocal on that, but Severinsen holds his own - believe me.
Brubeck, of course, does great on "A" Train, and Mulligan's
Baritone adds great depth & flavor to all the tracks he appears on.
I can't say enough about Eddie Daniel's clarinet, nor Shaughnessy's
drums. Matter of fact, anything I could say, can't make it any better
than it is in truth. It's typically Telarc clean & is, to me anyway,
the closest thing to time travel back to what must've been one
fantastic era for music.
Anyway, the title is "THE BIG BAND HIT PARADE" and is TELARC CD-80177.
I recommend it even if you have only a passing interest in the big
band era. If you're a big band fan, then you'll love alot of the
"different" arrangements of these standards, because they retain
the flavors of the originals, but contain their own character. Enjoy.
The Cruiser
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1378.1 | Not a CD, but... | HPSMEG::LUKOWSKI | Nat'l apathy week & nobody cares! | Mon Nov 07 1988 15:05 | 9 |
| If you want to see the original artists of the Big Band era perform,
TEMPO (cable channel) has a show that I believe is called 'Big Band
Days' which airs about four times per week. I don't have the times
now but will post them in case anyone is interested. Of course
this stuff is in black & white and is not in stereo but is enjoyable
neveretheless.
-Jim
|
| 1378.2 | Big Band Days on TEMPO | HPSMEG::LUKOWSKI | Nat'l apathy week & nobody cares! | Tue Nov 08 1988 08:14 | 4 |
| I was mistaken, the show airs 3 times/week. The times are:
Monday @9:00 PM, Friday @10:00 PM, and Sunday @8:00 PM.
-Jim
|
| 1378.3 | Vintage Sound With Clarity | ASABET::MCLAUGHLIN | Skier au Mont Fort | Thu Nov 17 1988 17:11 | 18 |
| I finally located this disc and picked it up for only $11.98! After
a couple of listens, I have to agree that it was well done. The disc
sounds a bit different from my other DDD big band discs, and I
figured out the reason: An acoustic bass was used rather than an
electric one. The result is that the bass sound is never really
strong, and sometimes does get lost in the mix. That is fine with
me though, as the disc has more of an authentic big band sound with
strictly acoustic instruments employed. If I want more bass, I'll
just play something else! I enjoy these remake discs very much, as
I never became accustomed to the original versions. I have heard the
vintage recordings on CD, and as good as they are, I just cannot get
past the technical limitations of the recordings. Big band purists
may gag when they hear this DDD stuff, but these remakes are providing
enjoyment and employment.
Shawn
|
| 1378.4 | Not the Same | GERBIL::LEVITT | | Fri Nov 18 1988 14:30 | 18 |
|
I definitely don't agree with the reviews of this disk. I bought the
disk and traded it already.
I have a good collection of LPs and CDs of Big Band music from the
original masters. It just isn't the same.
I guess the best way I can describe it is: You Can't Go Back!!!
There is a certain melancholy feeling about the old recordings that
remind you of what the depression must have been like. Doc Severenson
etc. puts a 1950s tempo to the music that is all wrong.
So, this is hard to express, but the music is technically perfect, and
the CD is up to Telarc standards, but it isn't the same music. It is
recorded by a "pops" orchestra, and that's what it sounds like.
Jeff
|
| 1378.5 | The original versions had "soul" | POOL::CAFARELLA | | Thu Dec 29 1988 11:05 | 22 |
|
I agree with .4. I haven't heard this particular disk, but about a year
ago, I picked up the "In the Digital Mood" GRP recording (on tape). At
the same time, I got a tape of original Glenn Miller recordings. I have
played the original Miller stuff many, many times, but have rarely
dragged out the GRP recording. This surprised me, because I expected to
enjoy the GRP more, what with all the new recording techniques, etc.
The difference can be summed up very briefly: the original versions had
soul -- the new ones do not. There is a vibrancy and a verve to the
originals which is totally lacking in the GRP versions. The GRPs are,
of course, technically perfect, but lacking of any kind of feeling. I'm
afraid it's a reflection of our times. I think if I had never heard the
originals, I would have enjoyed the GRP versions, but, for those of you
who haven't gone back to the originals, please give it a try. Pretend
you are listening to the tunes through an AM radio where all that
really matters is what the music does to you -- not its frequency
response is.
Tom Caf.
|
| 1378.6 | Not the Glenn Miller Orchestra! | CASEE::CLARK | Ward Clark | Fri Dec 30 1988 13:14 | 14 |
| I agree with the Tom (.5) -- the GRP "In the Digital Mood" is wonderful
sound but no soul.
A few nights ago, after watching "The Glenn Miller Story", I decided to
give the GRP album another spin. While I listened, I read thru the CD
booklet again, and this time I discovered a reason for the lack of soul.
Although the album claims to be by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the list
of musicians doesn't seem to agree -- it includes Steve Gadd, Phil Bodner,
and a couple of others that I seriously doubt are part of the current
GM band. Although they are top notch players, they only played together
for the 3 days of the recording session!!!
-- Ward
|
| 1378.7 | Gonna get it anyway!! | SCOMAN::PHILLIPS | Music of the spheres. | Tue Jan 24 1989 16:44 | 6 |
| Call it lack of soul if you will - I bought the disc for my mother
for Christmas, and she and I both LOVE it. It's plain these guys
are having a lot of fun making this music. I s'pose I'd better
return her copy and buy my own...
--Eric--
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