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The Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
List: $14.98
Now: $12.98
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- Mack's Place 7:03
(J. Cutler) Listen
- Milky Way Mambo 5:38
(D. Barry) Listen
- Alan Weight Speaking 6:49
(J. Cutler) Listen
- Get in the Game 5:02
(J. Cutler) Listen
- Encontro das Aguas 6:46
(D. Barry) Listen
- Dreamcatcher 4:56
(D. Barry) Listen
- Dear Lord 5:22
(J. Coltrane, arr J. Cutler) Listen
- In Progress 8:10
(J. Cutler) Listen
- Autumn Mist 6:55
(J. Cutler) Listen
- The Checkered Demon 5:50
(D. Barry) Listen
- May Day 6:55
(D. Barry) Listen
- View From The Top 4:17
(D. Barry) Listen
- Twilight Dawned 2:12
(J. Cutler) Listen
What people are saying:
"An album that never lets you down... The JCJO certainly enhances Seattle's burgeoning stature as a mecca for high-quality jazz, and placing 'In Progress' on one's list of the best big band albums of the year is a no-brainer."
Jack Bowers, AllAboutJazz.com
"Cutler's (big band) is one of the best of the current crop. Execution and solos are first rate. Cutler and Daniel Barry write beautifully."
Doug Ramsey, Rifftides (author, contributor to Jazz Times and Downbeat)
"This three-year-old ensemble shows Stan Kenton muscle..."
Downbeat Magazine
"This big band really sparkles on its new album, 'In Progress,' which features some hot, complex and swinging arrangements."
The Seattle Times
"Cutler's music is confident, swinging and exuberant and extends the modern tradition.
Daniel Barry's Music is like a visit to a South American carnival... It all
comes together here."
Jim Wilke,
Jazz After Hours, PRI and Jazz Northwest,
KPLU
In Progress is the debut CD of the Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, and features original compositions
and arrangements by Jim and fellow band member/composer Daniel Barry. The ensemble was formed
in January of 2004, becoming the house band for Tula's and performing nearly every Sunday night since.
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The Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra |
Mack's Place is a shuffle that finds its groove early and never gives it up.
Named for Tula's proprietor Mack Waldron, it was only fitting to let Chris Amemiya on bone
"take a ride." With a sax soli, shout chorus, and a bass solo by Phil Demaree, this tune has it
all. - JC
Milky Way Mambo – This intoxicating piece begins very simply, but then flies
across the galaxy using spiral shapes that include glissandi, wild plungers in the brass and
a trip around the musical circle of 5ths. Though not technically a mambo, this title sounded
much better than Milky Way Cha Cha. Enjoy the flute of James DeJoie as it soars through the
Milky Way. - DB
Alan Weight Speaking was written in memory of Alan Weight, a great musician,
mentor, and friend, and Mike Mines pays perfect homage with his graceful flugelhorn melodies.
The piano solo by Steve Rice lays a foundation for Mike's improvised solo as he navigates the
maze of chord changes with ease. - JC
Get In the Game taps into the jazz tradition of "borrowing" chord changes from great standards,
and if you listen closely you'll hear a tribute to the original melody (you get to guess what
it is). It was a fun piece to write, it's fun to play, and it really swings!
- JC
Encontro das Águas (Meeting of the Waters) was originally written for the
Banda Amazonas and received its premiere at the Theatro Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil under
the direction of Maestro Rui Carvalho. Manaus marks the confluence of the Rio Negro and
the Rio Solimões. These giant rivers combine to form the Amazon. It is a very powerful place.
- DB
Dreamcatcher was commissioned by Musicworks Northwest in tribute to longtime Northwest
trumpet player, band leader, and music educator Roy Cummings. Roy's legacy thrives through
the careers of his many students and it is an honor to contribute to his memory with this
composition. - DB
Dear Lord was inspired by John Coltrane's original recording. The tenor solo
is simple and lyrical, creating space for the horn backgrounds which capture the elegance brought
to the original rendition by McCoy Tyner. Brian Kinsella's gracefully twisting and turning solo
has us forget for just a moment that we're listening to a big band, but the horns return and
build to the final flurry. - JC
In Progress starts with just a bass line, which is how the piece was originally
composed – the angular bass line was written with no melody or chord progression in mind, and
the rest of the elements grew from that foundation. Musical thoughts, colors, and voicings
sneak, pop, and jump in as the motif develops, until finally the melody and harmonies are clear.
Steve Kirk and Richard Cole demonstrate their virtuosity, and momentum continues to build
until the music can take no more and the piece slowly returns to its origins. - JC
Autumn Mist was originally written as a three horn combo piece, arranged with
counter-melodies and rhythmic punches to sound like four or five horns, so it was a natural
transition to a big band arrangement. Al Keith and Chris Fagan capture the energetic jazz
samba feel, with Chris Monroe on drums driving the pulse from beginning to end. - JC
May Day is a celebration of springtime. The somber opening dirge gives way
to a raucous Cha Cha. After marvelous solos by Susan, Steve and Mike, counter melodies
eventually combine to create a festive circus of musical life. - DB
The Checkered Demon is a sultry tenor sax feature executed in appropriate
demonic fashion here by Richard Cole. In fact, this piece probably should have been written
for Rich, so we'll just say (in Checkered Demonic tones) that it was. Listen closely and
you can hear the demon's laugh. - DB
View From The Top is a salute to the fabulous big band era of the 1940's.
The virtuosic solo parts are heroically performed by Al Keith and Jim Cutler, along with
exuberant drumming from Greg Williamson. View from the Top was commissioned by the
Mount Si High School Jazz Ensemble. - DB
Twilight Dawned provides the perfect coda for what otherwise is a driving disc.
This tone poem peeks inside the gentler side of the band, and its subtle nature speaks
for itself. - JC
– Composer Notes by Jim Cutler & Daniel Barry
Personnel
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Saxophones
Steve Treseler (Lead Alto)
Vanessa Sielert (Alto)
Jim Cutler (Tenor)
Richard Cole (Tenor)
James DeJoie (Bari) - Trumpets
Dennis Haldane (Lead)
Mike Mines
Alan Keith
Daniel Barry - Trombones
Chris Amemiya (Lead)
Steve Kirk
Chuck Wiese
Nelson Bell (Bass) - Rhythm
Steve Rice (Piano)
Philip Demaree (Bass)
Greg Williamson (Drums)
Chris Monroe (Drums)
Scott Ketron (Drums) - Additional Musicians
Lisa Gordanier (Alto Sax)
Chris Fagan (Alto Sax)
Paul Gillespie (Tenor Sax)
Peter Greene (Trumpet)
Emily Asher (Trombone)
Brian Kinsella (Piano)
Susan Pascal (Vibraphone & Marimba)
Album Credits:
Producers: Jim Cutler & David Pascal
Recording Engineer: Howard Mostrom
Recorded at: Triad Studios,
January 29, 30, February 6, 7, 2005
Edited and Mixed by: David Pascal
Masterd by: Rick Fisher,
RFI/CD Mastering
Add to cart
This CD is also available for purchase at:
Bud's Jazz Records
102 S. Jackson St (at First Ave.), Seattle
206-628-0445
Tula's Restaurant and Nightclub
2214 Second Avenue, Seattle
By Mail:
Send a check for $15.98 (includes shipping and handling) to:
Jamco Music
3549 NE 182nd Street
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
Washington State residents add $1.14 sales tax ($17.12 total).
Make checks payable to Jamco Music.
Special love and thanks go to my beautiful wife Stephanie and our daughter Marie for supporting
me during this project. - Jim
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