Search - Thad Jones, Mel Lewis :: Central Park North

That wonderful New York modern orchestra

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 07/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first half-dozen or so (this is number 5) Thad Jones-Mel Lewis big band albums really knocked me out, especially for the excellent sound the engineers still got from the band. Then for some reason when we got into the 1970s, engineers seemed to forget how a big band should sound on record (worst is how they mutilated the sound of the drums). Anyway, this album still has great sound. This band was determined to play contemporary music with modern charts and arrangements, and the following they built up was amazing (all those great Monday nights at the Vanguard). The personnel here is A-1 and features, besides Thad and Mel, Benny Powell and Jimmy Knepper (trombones) Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, and Joe Temperley (saxes) and Roland Hanna (piano) to mention only a few of the greats present. Two of the tunes get into a boogaloo vein, popular at the time (not anymore), but all the tunes are interesting compositions. Best on the disc is their rendition of GROOVE MERCHANT, a terrific Jerome Richardson tune. Modern big band aficionados will enjoy this album a lot."

A different band from the extraordinary Thad Jones' mind. A

Carlos from Rio | Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

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You could point out some few Jazz big bands (not those bands for dancing)with such charisma and personality which could be distinghished by their proprietary sound.



Like Count Basie's, Stan Kenton's and Duke Ellington's, certainly the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra files in the first team.



And tribute must be paid to the original Thad Jones' arrangements. Also to the great musicians and imaginative musicians who've always been with the band, featuring trombonist Bob Brookemeyer.



Here you'll specially find a great rendition of Nat Adderley's 'Jive Samba'.



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LEWIS-JONES ORCHESTRA ON THE TOP!

Gabriel Bienzobas Fernandez | 09/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful masterpiece from the orchestra formed by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, A superb sound ( remastered to 24 bits), the Cd is also full of smart funk sounds, whithout forgetting the balad . The last track that ends the album is the most complex in blues tones and, no doubts a masterpice, with Thad superb with the flugelhorn. All tracks, except two, are composed by Thad Jones, and is a part of what the orchestra made with Solid State. Lovely album that everybody who likes jazz/band sound should have.

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