By Ric Bang
Buy CD: It Could Happen
The
world boasts many excellent musicians, but very few top-of-the-line arrangers. They know who they are, of
course, but the listening public usually doesn't even know their names. That’s
a real shame, because they’re often the individuals who transform a good combo
into a great one.
Dave
Hanson, who arranged every track on this release, is my current favorite in
this category.
The
H2 Big Band was created by two Denver-based artists: pianist, teacher and
“arranger supreme” Hanson, and trumpeter Al Hood is the other (thus the H2). This
is their third album, following Just a Little Taste and You’re It! It should be
noted, however, that the “big band” descriptor didn’t become appropriate until
the second release ... and, while that group was comprised of Denver-based
artists, this one uses L.A. studio musicians.
Almost
two dozen personnel were utilized here: six woodwinds, four trumpets/
flugelhorns
(one of them Hood), four trombones, five in the rhythm section — including Hanson on piano, and Larry
Koonse on guitar — guest vocalist Rene Marie, and a small string section on two
tracks.
The
results are stunning, the two-day session having produced 11 fantastic tracks. The
arrangements include fabulous melodic lines that are interwoven with equally
great improv sections. The solo work swings and, when appropriate, is elegant. This
album demands your attention: truly incomparable concert big band jazz.
“Hocus-Pocus,”
“CP You” and “B in C” are great swingers; standards including “The Look of
Love,” “It Could Happen to You” and “You Go to My Head” shine like brand new
vehicles; and “The Healing Hymn” is absolutely gorgeous.
Three
tracks — “Black Lace,” “Freudian Slip” and “Autobiography” — are composed and
sung by Marie, who has an expressive voice and jazz feel. She’s probably better
known for her writing, acting and (at times) “attitude,” but she sure can sell
her songs.
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