By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Time Within Itself
Percussionist
Michael Waldrop plays both drums and mallet instruments (vibes and marimba). He
has a PhD and currently is a professor of percussion at Eastern Washington
University, where he teaches both jazz and classical courses.
He
also directs a big band, and this is that ensemble’s inaugural album.
Once
upon a time — back in unenlightened times — drummers often were looked down
upon. (Question: “How big is your band?” Answer: “Sixteen musicians and a
drummer.”) Happily, that’s no longer the case. During the past several months,
I’ve reviewed numerous units led by drummers who have college degrees, who
compose and arrange their own music, and who are affiliated with — and teach —
at upper-level schools. Waldrop is in good company.
He
was a member of the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band; he has toured the
U.S. and Europe with various groups; and he has played with numerous jazz icons
and personnel. The big band here is impressive: five reeds, eight brass and a
rhythm section of four, along with guest performers on some tracks.
All
of these tracks are original compositions, half by Waldrop. Woodwind impresario
Jack Cooper (who also fronts his own big band) wrote the others and masterfully
arranged everything on the album. Everybody deserves mention, but I must
acknowledge master guitarist and vocalist Jimi Tunnell, and vocalist Sandra
Dudley; both contribute “no-word” shading on three tracks, using their voices
as instruments, to back up the band’s swinging instrumental passages. The
result is impressive, and really adds to the impact.
This is a wonderful
orchestra, filled with extremely talented artists. Want more proof? The entire
album was completed in just one day!
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