MIKE LONGO AND THE NEW YORK STATE OF THE ART JAZZ ENSEMBLE
OASIS
CONSOLIDATED ARTISTS JAZZ ENSEMBLE CAP 982
It may cross your mind that Mike Longo's big band is possibly a bit too close to the cutting edge. May I assure you that this could not be further from the truth, and I hope Mike does not mind me saying this. I have been asked by customers if the band would be to their liking. In a nutshell this is a swinging set featuring a mix of standards and originals, performed in in a modern jazz/swing style, by some of New York's finest musicians. How anyone could not enjoy the music is beyond me, so relax and buy.
There is more; three (+) of the twelve tracks feature an excellent vocalist Hilary Gardner. This lady is a delight, there is a timeless quality to her voice that is irresistable contributing massively in making the album at least as enjoyable as previous releases.
Liner notes by the leader suggest that the album's concept was to create " as much joy and happiness as we possibly could with our music....an oasis in these turbulent times". Well that was achieved without any doubt.
I feel I must state the obvious. I may have given the impression this is a cosy dance orientated CD. Not so, listening to the creative process of a fine jazz musician is exciting, it is life set to music who knows where it will go next; it is the serendipitous quality of jazz music that captivates the discerning listener .
I am delighted to have the chance of adding this gem to my own collection. I have copies here in the UK.
Tracks:-