Details
Track Listing
1. On the Stage in Cages
2. Birds of Paradise
3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
4. Fresh Impression
Album Notes
Personnel: Carla Bley (piano); Andy Sheppard (soprano & tenor saxophones); Roger Jannotta (soprano saxophone, flute); Wolfgang Puschnig (alto saxophone, flute); Pete Hurt (tenor saxophone); Julian Arguelles (baritone saxophone); Lew Soloff, Guy Barker, Claude Deppa, Steve Waterman (trumpet); Gary Valente, Richard Edwards, Annie Whitehead (trombone); Ashley Slater (bass trombone); Alex Balanescu (violin); Karen Mantler (organ); Steve Swallow (bass); Dennis Mackrel (drums).
Recorded at Angel Studios, London, England on July 2 & 3, 1993.
BIG BAND THEORY was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.
This 1993 set debuts three new compositions by Carla Bley as well as her arrangement of Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." BIG BAND THEORY is another of Bley's larger-scale ensemble outings, with 18 players in tow this time. Many of her mainstay players are on board again, including trombonist Gary Valente, saxophonist Andy Sheppard (a key component of the trio that played on the SONGS WITH LEGS set), and bassist Steve Swallow.
Bley herself continues to keep a seat at the piano, with her daughter Karen Mantler now on the organ. After the rousing opener, "On the Stage in Cages," guest violinist Alex Balanescu is featured on the gorgeously rolling "Birds of Paradise." It's quite stirring to hear soaring strings played over the Bley-written horn parts, and one can only hope that she'll write more for string players. Throughout, Bley's knack at creating playful juxtapositions is as sharp as ever.
Industry Reviews
...It's always good to hear from Bley, and this time she's got her `serious composer' hat on...
Option (08/01/1994)
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