Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - That's How We Roll (2011)

For ten years, saxophonist/pianist and GRAMMY-winning composer/arranger Gordon Goodwin has been driving a train that won't stop. He first assembled his Big Phat Band in 2000 - an ironic starting point for an 18-piece big band, given that the fleeting neo-swing craze of the late 1990s was just winding down. But Goodwin and his crew have always been the real deal, and have always been in it for the long haul. In the decade since their ambitious beginnings, the Big Phat Band has burned up stages and studios with an eclectic, intelligent and high-energy brand of music that marries the best elements of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, John Barry and other big-band and orchestral jazz giants of the past 70 years.

The Big Phat Band's journey takes a new turn with the release of That's How We Roll, a ten-song set of all original material, save for an intriguing rendition of Gershwin's classic "Rhapsody in Blue." The remaining nine tracks were written by Goodwin, including the driving and syncopated "Never Enough," which he co-authored with his wife, Lisa Goodwin. Along the way, the Big Phat Band gets some assistance from a handful of stellar artists: a cappella supergroup Take 6, saxophonists Gerald Albright and Dave Koz, and bassist Marcus Miller.

Goodwin admits that weaving high-caliber artists like these into the context of an 18-piece band can be a challenge. "In a case like this, you really want it to sound like an organic meeting of band and guest soloist," he says. "It takes a great engineer like Tommy Vicari to fit everything into the sonic picture in a way that the listener can hear every part. He did an outstanding job in that regard."

The resulting tracks preserves the integrity of the original material yet modernizes it for a contemporary audience. It's this kind of balance of the traditional with the progressive that underscores the Big Phat Band's philosophy overall. "The title of the album is a statement about our desire and commitment to ensemble music that encompasses a wide range of styles," says Goodwin. "That's How We Roll is our way of saying, `This is the music that we believe in, and we're going to play it and record it in a way that reflects that belief and the commitment."

Tracklist:

1. That’s How We Roll (7:06)
Featuring Eric Marienthal, alto sax

2. Howdiz Songo? (7:10)
Featuring Wayne Bergeron, trumpet, Andrew Synowiec, guitar

3. Rippin’ n Runnin’ (6:59)
Featuring Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, Gerald Albright, alto sax

4. Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn) (7:55)
Featuring Gordon Goodwin, tenor sax

5. Everlasting (5:40)
Featuring Andrew Synowiec, guitar

6. Gaining on You (5:33)
Featuring Brian Scanlon, tenor sax, Gordon Goodwin, piano

7. Never Enough (5:45)
Featuring Take 6, vocals, Marcus Miller, electric bass, Gordon Goodwin, B-3 organ

8. It’s Not Polite to Point (7:54)
Featuring Andy Martin, Francisco Torres, Charlie Morillas, Craig Ware, trombones

9. Race to the Bridge (6:11)
Featuring Eric Marienthal, alto sax, Brian Scanlon, tenor sax

10. Rhapsody In Blue (7:26)
Featuring Sal Lozano, clarinet, Jeff Driskill, tenor sax, Andy Martin, trombone, Wayne Bergeron, trumpet

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