I'm always astonished to hear a terrific new CD by a contemporary big band. One would assume that the cost of rehearsing, touring and recording today is prohibitively expensive, that finding the talent to play regularly in such a band is increasingly difficult to find, and that arranging isn't quite what it used to be back in the 1950s and '60s. A new CD proves those assumptions wrong.
Pianist, composer, arranger and leader Steve Allee has what it takes. His Naptown Sound (Jazzville) is a tribute to the jazz feel of Indianapolis, Ind. According to the liner notes by Kyle Long, a producer and host at KFYI, a public radio station in Indianapolis, Naptown jazz was forged on Indiana Avenue, an historic black neighborhood. In addition to being the strip where the city's vital clubs were located, the avenue was also the center of music education. [Photo above, from left, of conductor John Clayton and Steve Allee]
Born in the city in 1950, Steve joined Buddy Rich's touring band at age 19 and began recording in 1979. He has worked with Slide Hampton, James Moody, Rufus Reid, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Curtis Fuller, Jeff Hamilton, Tim Hagans, John Riley, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen, Eddie Vinson, Milt Hinton and Bobby Shew. He also has recorded six CDs as a leader.
The players on his new album are spectacular. The band features Joey Tartell (lead tp); John Raymond, Derrick Gardner and Ansyn Banks (tp); Jeff Conrad (tp on Friends and Spang a Lang); Jim Pugh (lead tb); Rich Dole and Zach Granger (tb); Jared Rodin (b-tb); Matt Pivec (as,cl); Michael Stricklin (as,fl,ss); Chip McNeill (ts,cl); Rob Dixon (ts,ss); Ned Boyd (bs,bass clar); Frank Glover (cl on Twins and Zebra II); Steve Allee (p,Fender Rhodes); Rusty Burge (vib,perc); Sandy Williams (g); Dave Stryker (g on Full House and Wes at the Turf); Jeremy Allen (b); Steve Houghton (d); Brian Kilgore (perc) and John Clayton (cond).
The tracks, with soloists (all arrangements by Steve Allee, who also wrote all of the compositions except Full House, by Wes Montgomery; and Zebra II, by Claude Sifferlen):
- Full House (Dave Stryker, Rusty Burge and Rob Dixon)
- Twins (Frank Glover and Steve Allee)
- Spang a Lang (John Raymond, Chip McNeill and Steve Houghton)
- Cookin' at the Kitchen (Michael Stricklin)
- Naptown Nights (Ansyn Banks, Rusty Burge and Rob Dixon)
- Wes at the Turf (Dave Stryker and Bob Dixon)
- Hubbub (Steve Allee, Jim Pugh, Matt Pivec and Steve Houghton)
- Friends (Bob Dixon, Jeff Conrad and Steve Allee)
- Zebra II (Frank Glover)
I so enjoyed this album. It's perfect in every way. These guys worked hard to get to a place where everything sounds fluid and effortless. Steve's work here is truly remarkable as composer, arranger, pianist and leader. Based on the music, these cats clearly love working hard for Steve and for themselves.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find the Steve Allee Big Band: Naptown Sound here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Full House...
Here's Spang a Lang...
Here's Wes at the Turf...
And here's Cookin' at the Kitchen...
