Critics agree that Thad Jones's talents as an orchestrator and composer overshadowed his thrilling trumpet playing, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is not one to debate the point. Thad Jones Legacy is a portrait of Jones a... more »s a communal voice, the writer that helped build this very band three decades ago. Jones and drummer Mel Lewis established the aptly dubbed Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra in the mid-1960s as a rehearsal unit to let New York players flex their chops outside their workaday gigs. But Jones and Lewis took the band to many heights, from tours and albums to probably the longest continuous stay of any jazz band in New York. They've played the Village Vanguard every Monday since 1966, changing their name to the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in honor of their home and in the wake of Jones's departure in 1978 and Lewis's death in 1990. Thad Jones Legacy shows the band in prime form, powering through Jones steamrollers like "A--That's Freedom" and the boogaloo-inspired "Central Park North" as well as more steamy, orchestral tunes like "Quiet Lady." At all times, Jones's tunes show distinct postbop tendencies, with the band's ranks firing off solos that sizzle before an uproarious, dazzling backsplash of perfectly balanced reeds and big brass and tight rhythms. --Andrew Bartlett« less
Critics agree that Thad Jones's talents as an orchestrator and composer overshadowed his thrilling trumpet playing, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is not one to debate the point. Thad Jones Legacy is a portrait of Jones as a communal voice, the writer that helped build this very band three decades ago. Jones and drummer Mel Lewis established the aptly dubbed Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra in the mid-1960s as a rehearsal unit to let New York players flex their chops outside their workaday gigs. But Jones and Lewis took the band to many heights, from tours and albums to probably the longest continuous stay of any jazz band in New York. They've played the Village Vanguard every Monday since 1966, changing their name to the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in honor of their home and in the wake of Jones's departure in 1978 and Lewis's death in 1990. Thad Jones Legacy shows the band in prime form, powering through Jones steamrollers like "A--That's Freedom" and the boogaloo-inspired "Central Park North" as well as more steamy, orchestral tunes like "Quiet Lady." At all times, Jones's tunes show distinct postbop tendencies, with the band's ranks firing off solos that sizzle before an uproarious, dazzling backsplash of perfectly balanced reeds and big brass and tight rhythms. --Andrew Bartlett
"This CD a must have for anyone who is even remotely curious about Thad's music. It is also a must have for anyone who wants to know what top New York musicians are capable of when they play together regularly: this is what a great New York band sounds like. Not only will this CD please lovers of Thad's music, but audiophiles will be pleanty happy with the disk's "HDCD" format that offers very, very high resolution of sound, no mater what kind of CD player you have."
We need more quality Thad
James Simon | Valparaiso, In USA | 07/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What Thad took from Basie was a swing feel that I can't describe without using profanity. What he added was incredibly intricate, difficult, and sophisticated harmonies and counter-melodies. In many ways, Thad Jones was the next logical, intelligent step in big band arrangement after Duke Ellington. They both packed so much music into their arrangements that one more note would have broken the swing camel's back. It is difficult to find a clear well played Thad Jones/Mel Lewis album. This one is definitely one of the great ones. Mel Lewis was also, in my opinion, one of the greatest jazz drummers of all times. If you want to know what swing is and how to set up a big band hit, listen to Mel. Buy this album and listen to it."
A Wonderful Tribute!
Andrew Stevenson | Union Springs, New York | 01/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It started out as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra; then Thad left and it became the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra; then Mel passed away and it became the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Whatever the name, whoever the musicians were and are, this was and is one of the great ensembles in jazz history. The memory and inspiration of the multi-talented Thad Jones (musician, composer & arranger) remains at the heart of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra which continues on to this day playing Monday nights at NYC's famed Village Vanguard. This recording is a wonderful tribute to Thad! All of the incarnations of the "Jazz Orchestra" have featured stimulating compositions and arrangements which would be interesting all on their own even without a single improvised solo. But add those thrilling solos by first rate musicians and you have dynamic music indeed. Whatever name the "Jazz Orchestra" went by their music is always hightly recommended."
Thad Jones Rules
Georgia L. Arvidson | Dickinson, TX USA | 01/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Thad's incredibly bodacious voicings and alternative instrumentation blends a unique sound that can't be touched by any other big band. The Master is not only an incredible trumpet player, but more an arranger extrodinare."