Randy Brecker: Toe to Toe (1990)

Randy Brecker is essentially a fine hard bop trumpet soloist, but one versatile enough to fit into nearly any setting, including in the pop world, funk bands, and electronic fusion. He studied classical trumpet and attended Indiana University. Brecker was with Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1967, and spent 1968-1969 playing with Horace Silver's quintet. He also appeared with the big bands of Clark Terry, Duke Pearson, Frank Foster, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. After playing with the early fusion group Dreams in 1969, he worked with Larry Coryell's Eleventh House and Billy Cobham, in addition to keeping very busy with studio work. He teamed up with Michael Brecker in the popular funk-oriented Brecker Brothers (1974-1979); in the '80s he often collaborated with his wife, pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias; and in the '90s he toured with the reunited Brecker Brothers. But Randy Brecker still sounds best when in a freewheeling bebop combo, and fortunately he occasionally records in that type of spontaneous setting.

Tracklist:
1.Mr. Skinny [Brecker] 5:36
2.Trading Secrets [Brecker] 5:10
3.It Creeps up on You [Brecker] 4:53
4.The Glider [Brecker] 6:04
5.Toe to Toe [Brecker] 4:54
6.It's up to You [Brecker] 5:50
7.What Is the Answer [Brecker] 4:41
8.Lost 4 Words [Brecker] 6:14
Personnel:
Victor Bailey - Bass (Electric)
Jim Beard - Arranger, Bass, Drum Machine, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Mixing, Producer
Regina Belle - Vocals (Background)
Michael Brecker - Sax (Tenor)
Randy Brecker - Arranger, Electric Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Mixing, Producer, Trumpet, Vocals
Dennis Chambers - Drums, Drums (Snare)
Dag Haeggqvist Executive Producer
Jon Herington Guitar
Bashiri Johnson - Percussion
Darryl Jones - Bass
Mark Ledford - Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Bob Mintzer - Clarinet (Bass)
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Bob Mintzer: Spectrum (1988)

With an all-star lineup of 19 musicians including Randy Brecker, Bob Malach, Peter Erskine, Lincoln Gaines, Dave Bargeron and Don Grolnick put together by Bob Mintzer for 1988's "Spectrum", this 65-minute workout of pure enjoyment is absolutely big-band jazz at its finest.

The exceptional music arranged by Mintzer from start to finish includes 10 Mintzer originals as out of the total of 12 compositions on the CD, (7) are Big Band, (3) are quintet, (1) is quartet and (1) is solo saxophone.

The songs here flow with more adventure and flair than in comparison with other same period Mintzer Big Band efforts such as the 1986 "Camaouflage" which was overall more conservative and the 1991 "The Art Of The Big Band" which was somewhat less adventurous with safer material than "Spectrum" though both of those recordings were great sounding technically and very much had their own fine moments throughout.

The use of the ensemble at hand in a diverse and complete way by Mintzer presents a wide scope of styles and colors throughout for the listener to really appreciate this piece of work fully. Absolutely recommended.

Tracklist:
1. Like a Child
2. Spectrum
3. My Romance
4. Hanky Panky
5. Mr. Funk
6. Mine Is Yours
7. Frankie's Tune
8. Reunion
9. Heart of the Matter
10. I Hear a Rhapsody
11. Solo Saxophone
12. Cowboys and Indians
Spectrum
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Peter Erskine: Motion Poet (1988)

An excellent percussionist makes an uneven, but ambitious statement. - AMG

Tracklist:
1. Erskoman (06:22)
2. Not a Word (06:40)
3. Hero With a Thousand Faces (06:23)
4. Dream Clock (07:20)
5. Exit Up Right (05:59)
6. A New Regalia (04:05)
7. Boulez (03:22)
8. The Mystery Man (07:41)
9. In Walked Maya (05:12)
Personnel:
PETER ERSKINE - drums
MICHAEL BRECKER - saxes
WILL LEE - bass
ELIANE ELIAS - piano
BOB MINTZER - bass clarinet, saxes
MARC JOHNSON - bass
JEFF MIRONOV - guitar
JOHN ABERCROMBIE - guitar
JIM BEARD - synthesizers
RANDY BRECKER - trumpet
and many others
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Bob Mintzer Big Band: Homage To Count Basie (2000)

Count Basie was undoubtedly one of the most influential bandleaders in jazz history. It seems only logical then that saxophonist Bob Mintzer (who has dedicated most of his career to big-band music) would sooner or later record a tribute to the great father of swing. Joined by many of the top New York City-based jazz players including Pete Yellin on reeds, Scott Wendholt on trumpet, Phil Markowitz on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, and John Riley on drums, Mintzer and group create a touching homage to the Count.

We hear five tunes commonly associated with Basie on this disc. Among them are smart versions of "Cute," "April in Paris," and "Shiny Stockings." In addition, we are treated to three compositions by Mintzer himself, each reflecting the Basie style in one way or another. As a modernist, Mintzer adds a contemporary flair to otherwise classic swing charts such as "Lil' Darling" and "One O'Clock Jump," but it's the spirit of the music, not the harmonic vocabulary, that really matters here. For Basie, the key ingredient was always swing. Thankfully, Mintzer's music and ensemble live up to that great Basie reputation by swinging these charts just right.

• HOMAGE TO COUNT BASIE won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album •
Tracklist:
1. Havin' Some Fun (B.Mintzer) [7:56]
2. April In Paris (V.Duke & E.Harburg) [6:07]
3. One O'Click Jump [YouTube] (C.Basie) [11:16]
4. Lester Jumps Out (B.Mintzer) [9:20]
5. Cute (N.Hefti) [5:57]
6. Shinny Stockings (F.Foster) [7:45]
7. Home Basie (B.Mintzer) [4:12]
8. Lil' Darlin' (N.Hefti) [8:44]
Personnel:
Bob Mintzer Big Band:
Saxophones:
Lawrence Feldman & Pete Yellin (alto, clarinet & flute)
Scott Robinson & Bob Mintzer (tenor, clarinet & flute)
Roger Rosenberg (baritone)
Trumpets/Flugelhorns: Bob Millikan, Byron Stripling, Scott Wendholt, Michael Phillip Mossman
Trombones: Michael Davis, Keith O'Quinn, Larry Farrell, Dave Taylor (bass)
Piano: Phil Markowitz
Bass: Dennis Irwin
Guitar: James Chirillo
Drums: John Riley, Brian Brake
Technical Credits:
Producer: Bob Mintzer; Tom Jung
Engineer: Tom Jung
Recorded at Ambient Studios, Stamford, Connecticut on May 16 & 17, 2000. Includes liner notes by Bob Mintzer.
Homage to Count Basie
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Andrea Marcelli: Beyond the Blue (2008)

Andrea Marcelli: born in Rome, in 01/22/1962. Graduated in 1986 from the L. Refice Conservatory in Frosinone (Rome) in Classical Clarinet, Jazz Composition and Arrangement. He also attended clinics with Tommy Campbell and Peter Erskine. Worked as featured drummer playing shows for RAI Television from 1982 to 1988 also with the St.Louis Big Band directed by Bruno Biriaco (82/86), including the Live TV Show, "Unicef", "Il Nastro D`Argento" and "Domenica In" 82,83,84 for Pippo Baudo. The big band has included occasionally Baldo Maestri, Sal Genovese and Paolo Fresu. Among other TV shows that Marcelli performed are: Tandem, DOC, Blitz, Orecchiocchio,"La Musica c`e`, Il Piacere dell`Estate, Vediamoci sul 2, Cartoni Magici. Andrea also composed and recorded 7 CDs of Library music for Films, TV and Radio for Primrose Music, Flippermusic and Fonit Cetra broadcasted world-wide. More than 190 of his compositionas have been recorded in CD. Andrea moved to USA in 1989 spending 8 years in Los Angeles and 4 in New York and quickly gaining a Special Green Card Visa as a "First preference Alien wth Extraordinary abilities in the Field of Jazz".

Tracklist:

01. Between Poles 08:03

02. Summer Nights 05:54
03. Herbst (Autumn) 06:24
04. The Meaning of the Family 07:11
05. Beyond the Blue 06:04
06. Orange Green 05:26
07. Fragments 03:42
08. Distances 06:22
09. Still 03:16
10. Retirantes 05:24
11. Emotions 03:11
12. Welcome 02:58
13. Between Poles, reprise 05:57
14. More Orange 01:00
Persommel: Andrea Marcelli - drums, Mike Stern - guitar, Eddie Gomez - bass, Bob Mintzer - tenor sax,  Mitchel Forman - piano
Beyond The Blue Feat. Mike Stern, Eddie Gomez, Bob Mintzer, Mitchel Forman
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Marvin Stamm: Mistery Man (1993)

Marvin Stamm (born May 23, 1939, Memphis, Tennessee) is an American bebop trumpeter.

Stamm began on trumpet at age 12, and attended college at North Texas State University where he was a member of the world renowned One O'Clock Lab Band. Following this he played with Stan Kenton's Mellophonium Orchestra from 1961 to 1963, and with Woody Herman from 1965 to 1966. Following this he was in the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra from 1966 to 1972, and with Benny Goodman from 1974 to 1975. In the 1970s he also began a decades-long career as a prolific studio and session musician. In the studio he has recorded with Average White Band, Bill Evans, Quincy Jones, Donald Fagen, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr., Patrick Williams, Michel Legrand, Lena Horne, Frank Foster, Paul Desmond, and George Benson.

In the 1980s he played with John Lewis' American Jazz Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Band, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band (1987), Louie Bellson's Big Band and the band of composer Maria Schneider.

Tracklist
01. Mark Time
02. Influence
03. Marionette
04. Man With the Cucumber
05. Re-Re
06. Giuseppe
07. Old Ballad
08. The Mystery Man
09. A Method to the Madness
10. My Funny Valentine
Mystery Man
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