Tight, Together and Swingin'!
Tad Ulrich | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/13/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's really great to see these two excellent albums finally released on cd. If you are a big band lover, who likes a band with a little bite, you can't realistically ask for much more than you get here; a tight, together, well-rehearsed band of excellent studio musicians that is confident and loose enough to swing effortlessly.
This is a Capitol/EMI double album release of two Liberty Records lps which were released originally in 1960. This release is typical of cds previously released in this series with reproductions of the original album covers and notes and little more. The print is kinda small so some of you may want to get out your magnifying glasses. Both albums are in stereo and the sound quality is excellent. I have the mono lp versions and the stereo versions here make all the difference in the world in terms of dynamics, clarity and fullness of the band sound. On SUDDENLY, the rhythm section is split with the bass, piano and guitar on the left channel and drummer Frank Capp all alone on the right channel. On SWINGIN' they are all in the center.
The program starts off with a rousing, up-tempo "I've found a New Baby" which leaves no doubt whatsoever that this band can wail. SWINGIN' contains a great arrangement of "There's No You" with some beautiful ensemble work by the band. There
unfortunately, are no arranger credits given but tunes such as "Just-A Wearyin' For You" and "I'm Glad There is You", for example, have pianist/arranger (and now leader) Bob Florence written all over them. Although only SUDDENLY IT'S SWING lists the musicians, they are basically the same for SWINGIN' EYE as well.
Both albums are uniformly excellent so it's really difficult to choose a favorite. There is nothing ground breaking here, but you just gotta be impressed by a band that swings as well as this one did. This cd is an easy recommendation for me. As a long-time jazz fan, I am very pleased to have this two-fer in my collection."
Overlooked Gem
Doug Danzeisen | Dayton, Ohio USA | 02/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Si Zentner contributed to the bands of Les Brown, Harry James and Jimmy Dorsey before, in 1959, starting his own aggregation. This was not a good time to start a big band, as even many of the name bands had disbanded, due to increaased expenses and changing public tastes, which emphasized vocals to orchestration. And yet he did it, even scoring a top 40 hit with "Up a Lazy River" in 1961.
At their best Big Swing Bands are an awesome spectacle of power, teamwork and precision. Many have never heard them in their glory, hearing only scratchy old low fi recordings, which to be honest appeal to only a few of we hard core lovers of the genre. It is sad that recording technology
advanced to the point where the power and impact of a true big band could finally be captured only to find them nearly extinct. This is such an album. Zentner's band swings with muscular ease through up tempo numbers, and oozes elegance and grace on slow dance numbers. The fidelity is quite good, it has obviously been remastered with care. Highly recommended, as are any late 50's to mid 60s recordings of Harry James, Woody Herman, Quincy Jones big bands. Enjoy!"
Zentner swings to high heaven
JJA Kiefte | Tegelen, Nederland | 01/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A surprise re-issue! A wonderfully hard-hitting big band, stocked with mostly unknown names amply proves that it doesn't take highly paid studio musicians to make for one hour of the most brilliant swing to come out of the early Sixties.
Si Zentner, a top big band and studio trombonist very much in the Tommy Dorsey - Buddy Morrow vein, leads his crew through 24 not overly familiar titles. The band is tight knit and plays very well. Mostly ensemble (excepting Zentner's horn of course), the few sax and trumpet solos are well executed. Stand out tracks are "When a Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry", a terrible title that made me fear the worst, but if there ever was an unsentimental reading of the tune, then it's here. "Lonesome Road" just builds and builds, "The Swinging Eye" makes you want to tap your feet and hands on everything suitable and unsuitable for tapping on, underscored by Frank Capp's wonderful drums. The ballads are beautifully arranged and played (no arranger credits), but never syruppy.
All in all it's traditional big band swing of the first order, that deserves to be widely heard. Six stars if they could be given!"
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1