The Wizard of Jazz: A Tribute to Harold Arlen

by Hand Big Band, Peter Hand, Peter Hand Big Band

Overview

Guitarist/arranger Peter Hand assembled a big band for this concert, stocking it with a number of well-known veterans, but featuring tenor saxophonist Houston Person prominently. The program consists of seven songs by the legendary Harold Arlen, starting with an easygoing, bluesy take of "Come Rain or Come Shine" showcasing Person, Hand, and pianist Richard Wyands, with some potent writing for the horns to accompany it. The poignant ballad "The Man That Got Away" is an overlooked gem in Arlen's vast output, with a heartfelt solo by Person, while the tenor saxophonist communicates the words with his effective playing of "Stormy Weather," backed by Hand's inspired voicings for the brass and reeds. The one medley of the evening is a departure from the Arlen songbook, a medley of spirited blues by Person and Hand. To wrap the evening, Houston Person plays a lush, unaccompanied solo of "Over the Rainbow" to bring down the house. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2009
Label:	Savant Records (Jazz) / Savant
UPC:	0633842210124
Rank:	185674

Tracks

1. Come Rain or Come Shine
2. Ill Wind
3. This Time the Dream's On Me
4. The Man That Got Away
5. Let's Fall In Love
6. Stormy Weather
7. Blue Jug/Harold's Blues
8. Over the Rainbow

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Peter Hand   Primary Artist,Guitar
Peter Hand Big Band   Primary Artist,Guitar
Houston Person   Primary Artist,Reeds,Saxophone,Featured Artist
Hand Big Band   Primary Artist
Don Braden   Saxophone,Reeds
Valery Ponomarev   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Brad Leali   Reeds,Saxophone
Brian 'Fletch' Pareschi   Flugelhorn
Cecil Bridgewater   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Steve Johns   Drums
Kenny Berger   Reeds,Saxophone
Mike Migliore   Reeds,Saxophone
Sam Burtis   Trombone
Richard Wyands   Piano
Jim Pugh   Trombone
Jim Rotondi   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Ralph Lalama   Reeds,Saxophone
Brian Pareschi   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
John Mosca   Trombone

Technical Credits

Ira Gershwin   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Ted Koehler   Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
John Guth   Mixing,Engineer
H. Person   Composer
R. Andrew Lepley   Cover Photo
Peter Hand Big Band   Arranger,Producer,Liner Notes
Nick Newby Carter   Photography
Joe Fields   Executive Producer
Harold Arlen   Composer