Jim Waller Big Band "Bucket List"

 

Obecny na muzycznej scenie od ponad 50 lat, amerykański kompozytor, aranżer, pedagog, producent i multiinstrumentalista Jim Waller, płytą "Bucket List" debiutuje jako szef i lider własnego big bandu.
Urodzony w Santa Barbara w Kalifornii muzyk, od początku lat 60-tych ceniony jest jako znakomity saksofonista, puzonista, pianista i gitarzysta udzielając się w rozmaitych projektach i formacjach (m.in. Deltas, Los Blues, Road Apple).
Na przestrzeni lat Waller współpracował z takimi znakomitościami jak Marvin Gaye, Etta James czy Willie Nelson.
Od 1985 roku w San Antonio prowadzi własne studio nagraniowe Digital Image będąc producentem wielu płyt i twórcą niezliczonej ilości komercyjnych jingli nagrywanych dla potrzeb radia i kampanii reklamowych.
Własny big band jest dla Jima Wallera spełnieniem marzeń i ambicji artystycznych, a wydana w październiku płyta nagrana z gronem znakomitych amerykańskich instrumentalistów tworzących jazzową orkiestrę, to efekt wielu miesięcy pracy.
Na płycie znalazło się 7 własnych kompozycji Wallera i 7 standardów w jego autorskich aranżacjach. W tej drugiej grupie znajdziemy takie utwory jak m.in. "Georgia On My Mind", "God Bless The Child", czy odkrywczą wersję słynnej "Błękitnej Rapsodii" George'a Gershwina.

 

fot.J.Waller

W składzie Jim Waller Big Band znalazł się m.in. znany z współpracy z grupą Yellowjackets Will Kennedy, a także Lee Sparky Thomason, Curtis Calderon i Bill King, a w pięciu utworach z big bandem Jima Wallera zaśpiewała Jacqueline Sotelo.
Nagrania zarejestrowane zostały według audiofilskich standardów z wykorzystaniem systemu przetwarzania sygnału analogowego w zamkniętej pętli.

Album ukazał się 20 października.

Robert Ratajczak

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Jim Waller Big Band: Bucket List
CD 2020, Jim Waller

program:
  1. Samba For Suzell
  2. I Love Being Here With You
  3. New Blue Funk
  4. Blues For Los Blues
  5. Georgia on My Mind
  6. Waltz For Laura
  7. Rhapsody In Blue
  8. Why Don’t You Do Right
  9. Funksuite 109
10. A Ballad For Bob
11. Goody Goody
12. Honky Tonk
13. God Bless The Child
14. This Is It

personel:
Bill King, Brian Christensen - saksofony, flet
Karlos Elizondo, Adrian Ruiz,  Al Gomez, Curtis Calderon, Lee Sparky Thomason - trąbka
Jaime Parker, Gilbert Garza, Mark Hill, Matthew Erickson, Dr. Martin McCain - puzony
Adam Carrillo, Jason Galbraith, Matthew Maldonad, Dr. Joey Colarusso -  saksofony
Jason Valdez - gitara
Jim Waller - saksofony, Hammond XK-5 organ
Chris Villanueva - fortepian
Jacqueline Sotelo - wokal
Jim Kalson - gitara basowa
Will Kennedy - perkusja
oraz:
Georgie Padilla - congas, instr. perkusyjne
Joe Caploe - timpani
Andy Langham - fortepian
Libby Barnette - waltornia
Anastasia Parker, Dr. Stephanie Westney, Eric Siu - skrzypce
Yang Guo, David Wang - altówka
Ken Freudigman - wiolonczela

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materiały prasowe:
 

Veteran arranger and multi-instrumentalist Jim Waller releases his debut big band album "Bucket List".
The swinging and often-funky outing features Waller’s arrangements for a top-notch jazz orchestra with five vocals from Jacqueline Sotelo.

 

 

Jim Waller has had a very busy career as a multi-instrumentalist (tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, trombone, organ, piano, and guitar), freelance arranger, record producer, and educator. However one important musical goal has long been on his bucket list: recording a big band album.
 "Bucket List" is the realization of that goal as Jim Waller not only leads a 21-piece big band but provides all of the arrangements, 7 of the 14 compositions, and many rewarding tenor-sax solos, also making contributions on soprano and organ. The supporting cast is bolstered by the drumming of Will Kennedy (famous for his playing with the Yellowjackets) and the singing of Jacqueline Sotelo who stars on five standards.
 "Bucket List" contains its share of variety with swinging numbers, funky vamps, shuffles, and Latin rhythms. The set begins with the infectious “Samba For Suzell”, a catchy Latin-flavored original with excellent tenor, piano and drum solos. Jacqueline Sotelo is showcased on five swinging standards including two Peggy Lee-associated numbers recorded just in time for her centennial (“I Love Being Here With You” and “Why Don’t You Do Right”), a very soulful performance of “Georgia On My Mind”, and a surprise-filled rendition of “God Bless The Child”. “New Blue Funk” (which includes a fine flute solo from Bill King) displays the funkier side of the orchestra while the straight ahead “Blues For Los Blues” gives the ensemble an opportunity to swing hard.
 Of the other colorful pieces, the uptempo “Waltz For Laura” inspires inventive solos from Waller and trumpeter Lee Sparky Thomason. “Rhapsody In Blue” gets a fresh reworking, exploring several moods while building up to a triumphant conclusion. Waller switches to organ for his “Funksuite 109” and is showcased on tenor on the memorable “A Ballad For Bob”. “Honky Tonk” is most notable for its creative guitar solo by Jason Valdez while the closing “This Is It” is a hard-driving piece with worthy spots for Waller on soprano and trumpeter Curtis Calderon.

 Born in Santa Barbara, Jim Waller began playing music at an early age, mastering several instruments. He attended Fresno State College and formed the successful surf group The Deltas which recorded two albums in the 1960s. He was an important member of the groundbreaking jazz-rock octet Los Blues that played regularly for nearly six years (1967–73) in Las Vegas, recording "Los Blues Volume One" which was arranged and produced by Waller for United Artists Records.
 In 1977 he moved to San Antonio where he was a member of the group Road Apple. Since then Waller has worked with a large assortment of major names including Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Willie Nelson, Bill Watrous, Cat Anderson, Richie Cole, Paul Gonsalves and Pete Fountai n. In addition to being a freelance arranger and an influential educator, Jim Waller owns and operates Digital Image Recording Studio where he has produced a countless number of CDs and jingles.
 Now with the release of the very enjoyable "Bucket List", the title of big band leader can be added to the long list of Jim Waller’s accomplishments.