****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Alto saxophonist/flautist Bud Shank is one of the top musicians in jazz, and has continued to develop a personal sound throughout his six decade career. One does not usually associate Shank with big bands, but he was a key member of Stan Kenton's Innovations Orchestra in the `50's and Kenton's L.A. Neophonic Orchestra in the `60's. So it was logical for Bud to lead a specially assembled big band at the L.A. Jazz's Institute's 40th Anniversary celebration of the Neophonic Orchestra in 2005. And it was equally logical for Graham Carter of Jazzed Media to record this concert, as he has at several other Ken Poston produced events.The recorded results of this collaboration are heard on "Taking the Long Way Home", and they are superb. The band plays the challenging charts remarkably well considering the limited rehearsal time. The charts are generally of the bright and swinging variety, though we also get a medium slow blues -"Greasiness is Happening" - by Bob Cooper and a beautiful ballad by Mike Barone - "Starduster"- a tribute to Artie Shaw, which proves to be one of the memorable highlights of the CD. Barone also contributed the strong opener "Rosebud", plus the uptempo swinger "Lines Away". Bob Cooper arranged Shank's favored "Waltz for Debby"; Manny Albam the swinging "Night and Day"; and Shank the inventive "Night Has a Thousand Eyes." Tenor saxophonist Doug Webb shares solo space with Shank on the latter chart and Carl Saunders has solo space on "Limes Away."But the main soloist is Shank who plays alto throughout and is in superlative form. He plays with incredible depth and swing on every track, and often with the vigor of a man much younger (Bud was 78 or 79 at the time of this recording). In fact, he often sounds like a man rediscovering his youth, such is the joy of his improvisations and his spoken parts. Bud also weaves his way impressively through the typically challenging and multi-faceted title piece by Bob Florence (who plays piano and conducts on this track). This 18 minute chart was commissioned by Bud's wife Linda in honor of Bud's 75th birthday. It is a major concert work which can be played only by the best musicians and handled by a major soloist like Shank. Indeed, it reminds one of the music which was written for the original Neophonic Orchestra. The applause which marks the end of this chart (and the concert) seems to include an equal amount of awe and joyous appreciation. With his performance on this CD, Bud Shank reaffirms his ranking with Phil Woods as one of the top two altoists in jazz today.This well-recorded and highly recommended 68 minute CD invites and rewards repeated hearings. It is a great triumph for Bud Shank and another winner in the Jazzed Media catalogue. "Taking the Long Way Home" is the best CD I have heard so far in 2006.
