Direct descendants of the Matteson/Phillips Tubajazz Consort. Three euphoniums, three tubas, swinging rhythm section and guest vocalist Connye Florance playing wonderful arrangements any big band would envy.
Direct descendants of the Matteson/Phillips Tubajazz Consort. Three euphoniums, three tubas, swinging rhythm section and guest vocalist Connye Florance playing wonderful arrangements any big band would envy.
"This second CD of R. Winston Morris' Modern Jazz Tuba Project will blow you away and will very soon become "One of Your Favorite Things"...into the future! The program is well chosen and superbly arranged in every instance. The personnel is listed and solos are properly credited, so every listener will have new musician friends to talk about, brag about, and admire. If your first reaction is the same as mine, you will listen to the CD at least three times before trying to memorize the players' names and their choruses on each tune. The excellent stylized vocals also add new dimensions. "A happy band that plays together stays together!" So, we await their next CD. In the meantime, this CD is a must for every tuba and euphonium enthusiast to add to their collection and put on their gift list!
Harvey Phillips, Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort"
I LOVE this disc!
Sam Pilafian | Tempe, AZ | 10/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
""I just listened to the new MJT disc several times. I LOVE this disc! The new charts are stellar! They are pushing forward the quality of jazz vocabulary writing for tubas and euphoniums to a higher level than I've heard before. The band sounds great, the solos are ALL terrific. The euphs blow me away with the vocab and the chops. I'm most proud of Joe Murphy and Rich Perry and the INCREDIBLE solos on their part...so much tastiness! They are showing the way it ought to go....YES!! The most surprising thing for me is the beautiful integration of Jim Ferguson's bass playing within the Low Brass format...both in his ensemble work and in his solos. (Great mix)! I feel that the best mixes on this great recording are on Connye Florance's 2 tracks. She is absolutely world class on this CD!!! This is the best rhythm section/low brass soundset I've ever heard! Total clarity all the time. You can pick one line out ,or "sit back" and dig the collective sound. That is the finest of balances. You guys are the standard bearers that could break this thing wide-mainstream-open for the tuba and the euphonium!" Sam Pilafian
Professor of Music, Arizona State University"
Bottoms Up
Jim Self | Los Angeles, CA USA | 09/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The new "Favorite Things" CD by the MJT Band is awesome--like Basie down an octave. Great charts, swingin' rhythm section and excellent soloists. You really "FEEL" this band. Jim Self
LA Studios"
One of MY favorite things!!
Timothy L Myrto | Columbia, TN United States | 10/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Until you hear this group, you cannot imagine all that is possible with tubas and euphs!! This is the second CD they have recorded. and they show great depth, and paint with a broad brush.
The Tubas of Joe Murphy and company push the envelope right to the edge, and still maintain a tightness of a section rarely heard.
Bill Huber, lead euph,jazz solos,AND a five octave range! As in the first recording, he pushes himself to the limit, and as usual it paid off again!
Listen for Barry Greens solos on trombone! A great euph player.he adds some spice to this recording with his 'slide chops'!
Finally, Connye Florance, who would put this outstanding singer with a Tuba ensemble! A good thing someone did, her georgeous voice blends with, and embellishes with great style.Strange Thing indeed!
I've heard this group live, and I suggest this recording and a live performance when possible!
ALL performers are outstanding, do yourself a favor and purchase this recording!"
Everyone's Favorite Things....
Jerry A. Young | Eau Claire, WI United States | 09/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Modern Jazz Tuba Project's newest project, "My Favorite Things" is another landmark for the euphonium and tuba in jazz. This group, inspired by the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort of the late '70s/early 80s, picks up where the earlier group left off and is "pushing the envelope" in every respect. In addition to presenting new performances of two of Rich Matteson's arrangements for the MTC (Gregory is Here and Georgia on My Mind), members of the band add new pieces to the repertoire. Richard Perry's "Kool Kube," as well as his arrangement of Jack Peterson's "Hey Man," show off this imaginative artist's creativity with both pen and horn. Joe Murphy, also a prolific arranger for various jazz media, does his thing with outstanding arrangements of "Pick Up the Pieces" and "Sing, Sing, Sing." Joe's arrangements also feature his own solo horn work. Pianist Kevin Madill also gets in on the act with his settings of the title tune ("My Favorite Things"), "Strange Thing," and "This Masquerade." One of the things that really sets this CD apart is the vocal work by Connye Florance. Any notion that vocalists and tubists "just can't work together" is totally discredited here. "Strange Thing" and "This Masquerade" would charm any jazz club audience and leave them asking for more. Every member of this group, including a hard swinging rhythm section, is very much on top of his game. When you put this one into your CD player, you're going to find yourself hitting the "repeat" button after every tune."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1