CD REVIEW: George Gee Swing Orchestra – Swing Makes You Happy!

George Gee Swing Orchestra – Swing Makes You Happy! 
(Rondette Jazz RJ1009CD CD Review by Peter Vacher)
On Monday, May 11, 2015
Chinese-American bandleader George Gee’s orchestra has been a New York fixture for years, with a settled personnel and a steady Tuesday night gig at the Swing 46 club on W.46th Street. It’s a nonet, but one with a meaty presence, MD and trombonist David Gibson having created the kind of well-filled charts that give it the feel of a small big band. With a pair of trumpets, a single trombone, three saxes and three rhythm to work on, his writing has the kind of tight, punchy call and response patterns that the late-era Basie band deployed. All nineteen tracks were arranged by Gibson whose mellow, JJ Johnson style attack also registers in a number of pleasing solos.

The band carries two vocalists, Hilary Gardner emerging with great credit on Ronnell Bright’s ‘Sweet Pumpkin’ and ‘No Moon at All’, this via a brassy chart in which the trumpet pair pick off some succulent high notes. John Doakes fulfils the surrogate Joe Williams role, sounding exultant on I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water’and the more routine Baby Won’t You Please Come Home.

read more: http://news360.com/digestarticle/uTVEcdGaPUagOYDaz4aGzQ