Friday, April 24, 2015

The Hidden Bill Holman

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
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Yesterday I posted on three little known powerhouse albums with arrangements by Bill Holman (above). Today, I'm turning you on to a superb album from 2012 that even Tom Lord's Jazz Discography wasn't aware featured Bill's fine scoring: The Pete Christlieb & Linda Small 11-Piece Band's Tall & Small: High on You (Bosco).
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Christlieb (above) is a West Coast saxophonist who has played with bands big and small since 1965, when he recorded with Si Zentner. That's his tenor sax solo on Steely Dan's Deacon Blues in 1977. Linda Small is Pete's wife. She plays trombone and studied at the New England Conservatory among other institutions. She has played with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston Ballet, the Detroit Symphony and other ensembles. On the jazz side, she has worked with Emil Richards, Supersax, Don Menza, Buddy Childers and others.
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Tall & Small: High on You
 is a tremendous album that features Bill's arrangements and originals. The scores are difficult but still sustain Bill's engaging touch. The material captures the full range of Bill's approaches, including swingers (including the title track, Bosco Sez and Pent-Up House), mid-tempo tunes (Open Country and Minuet) and ballads (Meaning of the Blues, A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing).
Here's a probable personnel: Bob Summers, Tony Bonsera (tp) Linda Small (tb/ldr) Pete Christlieb (ts/ldr) plus three reeds out of: Terry Harrington, Kevin Guerin, Rob Heart and Gene Cipriano (reeds), Joe Bagg (p), Jim Hughart (b) Steve Schaeffer (d) and Bill Holman (arr).
Here's a video of the band, with Bill Holman directing...
JazzWax tracks: You'll find the Pete Christlieb & 51roNeX6w8L._SS500_Linda Small 11-Piece Band's Tall & Small: High on You here. 
JazzWax clip: Here's Bill Holman's amazing arrangement of the title track, High on You...
A special JazzWax thanks to David Langner.
Used with permission by Marc Myers

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