Vic Vogel

It is a big event for me to find out that new albums are available by the explosive, dynamic and exquisitely exciting Vic Vogel Big Band from Montreal, Canada. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced this band live. Without fear of contradiction, I doubt very much that you will find a big band that performs with as much energy and yet can still stun you with it's beauty in ballad mode. Vic Vogel is responsible for the library. He is one of those writers who has the knack of making all his arrangements have an epic quality that one associates with the classic bands of the past, and each original has the accessibility of a familiar standard vehicle. This is the very special talent of a man who is passionate about his music.

Too many composers and arrangers today appear to concentrate on producing works that appeal to an intellectual audience, this can either alienate or disappoint the listener. I always hope that a person hearing our music for the first time finds it a positive experience. How positive can you get? Live, this band projects all the qualities you wished for. It demands your attention and the quality of the arranging, the performance, the spectacular soloists ensure that you are inspired. All this makes it no surprise that this band has graced the Montreal Jazz festival for 25 years or so.

Hangin' Loose is a studio recording from 1989, listening to it should justify all my enthusiasm.

HOMMAGE A OSCAR PETERSON is the result of a collaboration that Vic Vogel enjoyed in 2005 when he was invited by the EUROPEAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA as the first non-European conductor. This was the prelude to a change of policy that took the band out of Europe for the first time, this time to Canada. There were 15 concerts all over Europe (not the UK) prior to visiting Canada. The tour was filmed for a documentary to appear sometime in the future and a concert in Gatineau which is in the North West of Canada, was recorded. The music was all arranged by Vic Vogel, the musicians on this occasion were those who were selected to perform in Europe, non of his current band were in the group. An opportunity was taken to salute jazz legend Oscar Peterson by taking some of his music and arranging it for big band. The result was extraordinary; the experience was uncannily similar to the sound of the Vogel band, even the soloists had a similar approach to the music. The concert was a joy, the recording is as good as being there, sharing the enthusiasm of the audience is no problem. In short this band exudes all the energy and enthusiasm you would associate with Vic Vogel's big band and is well worth finding via the links above. I understand they take Paypal! I will have copies in the UK.

Johanne Blouin: UNTIL I MET YOU; Johanne is one of the finest female big band vocalists I have heard in recent years. There are 14 tracks on this 2004 CD. During the course of the session Ms Blouin demonstrates her range, her dynamic qualities and ballad style a la Julie London to superb effect. She is accompanied by the Vic Vogel Big Band and all the arrangements are by the great man. The wonderful thing about the recording is how magnificently the vocalist fits with the style of the band whether in ballads style or during shouting swinging passages. The vocalists is worth the cost of the recording at least, but we the bonus of the big band also taking no prisoners. This recording is available via the website above.