RALPTH PYL'S SYDNEY ALL-STAR BIG BAND
PYLDRIVER :NEW 3169-2
This is a frustrating CD to write about. I have had many occasions in the past to use up my stock of superlatives on some very worthy big band CDs. I may have to revisit Thesaurus once more. 'Doin' Our Thing' was the first recording by the band. I expected a competant CD that would do well when sold at concerts to family and friends. What I received was a debut recording by what I consider to be, a world class big band. Now we have PYLDRIVER which is even more impressive.
The band has been in existance since 1990 and , not surprisingly has received many awards. It's personnel are in demand throughout Australia backing international artistes.
Bob Florence, Bobby Shew and Rob McConnell have performed with the group, and taken away with them the news that Australia is an international force in jazz music. Check out the personnel below and you will be less surprised at the kudos generated.
PYLDRIVER is first and foremost a hard hitting, swinging modern big band in the manner of Woody Herman as you would expect him to be today, or perhaps John Fedchock.Not too surprising when you notice that there are original arrangements by Don Rader (Woody Herman among others) and Dave Panichi (Buddy Rich and others). Both are domiciled in Australia and are featured soloists with the band.
I hear hundreds of big band recordings and many of them are excellent and not too often re-visited by me, once in a while one band is memorable. In this case I am compelled to suggest this is without doubt a 5-star album which I will come back to time and time again.It transends all international jazz music barriers and deserves to be ranked among the best in the world.