Live Jazz: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Vitello’s

By Michael Katz

If  you have never seen Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in a Small, Close Room, it is an experience I would heartily recommend. For sheer excitement, it is about the closest thing to actually being in the band – if you are a musician or just an air saxophone player, you will be tempted to stand up and take a solo.  Friday night, the eighteen musicians occupied every nook and cranny of the stage at Vitello’s. The guitarist seemed to be sitting in your  lap. The conga player was wedged between Goodwin’s piano and the back wall — his rhythms floating unseen from the direction of Laurel Canyon. The baritone sax player was perched just in front of the curtained stage entrance; one step backward and he could have been the Wizard of Oz. The drummer, Bernie Dresel, sat smack in the middle of  all this, cool and hip in black-rimmed glasses, looking like Steve Allen reincarnated in an argyle sweater.

If you are an acoustic purist, this may not be for you. There are just too many sounds colliding and reverberating between the low ceiling and around the walls. But that is hardly the point. This is a musical Funhouse. It’s a chance to get up close to precision section playing and scorching solos, not to mention a few young players who have infiltrated the roster of Goodwin’s veteran group of LA session men.

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band

Goodwin, who handles the arrangements and plays mostly piano now,  started this band a decade ago. He’s developed a rousing, hard swinging sound that borrows liberally from all points of the American jazz scene – over two sets Friday night there were nods to Benny Goodman, George Gershwin, Diz, Herbie and even Elmer Fudd. It’s all done with panache, humor and Goodwin’s trademark in-the-pocket groove, dominated by a front line of saxophones that doubles impressively on flutes and clarinets.

The first set featured tunes from the BPB’s most recent album, That’s How We Roll, opening up with the title cut. A typical foot-stomping Goodwin piece, it featured Francisco Torres, best known for anchoring the trombone section of the Poncho Sanchez Band, and Willie Murillo,  the lead trumpet soloist most of the night. “Howdiz Songo” followed with a lilting piano riff by Goodwin,  Joey De Leon’s congas bubbling up from behind. A couple of newer names made their presence felt: Katisse Buckingham is a fine young saxophonist who doubled on flute and Andrew Synoweic showed his versatility on guitar.

Goodwin won a 2012 Grammy for his shape-shifting arrangement of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Another young reed player, Kevin Garren, opened it up with a stirring clarinet solo. The tempo shifted to an aggressive swing, featuring Bob Summers on trumpet, then laid back for a Dorsey-like trombone burst from Charlie Morillas. Finally Murillo took over on trumpet as the tempo assumed a rollicking strip tease tone, perhaps not exactly what Gershwin had in mind, but who’s to say?

Singer Becky Martin, who I’d heard with Arturo Sandoval last month, stepped in for two numbers. It is especially hard belting out a tune over an 18 piece band in such a small room, but Martin carried an up-tempo version (was there anything else?) of “Cheek To Cheek” and followed with a persuasive interpretation of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night In Tunisia,” augmented by Murillo’s homage to Diz.

There were only two ballads over the evening, placed in penultimate  positions of each set. Guitarist Synowiec had a nice casual feel to “Everlasting” in the first set with Goodwin accompanying him gracefully on the piano. The same spot in the second set brought Goodwin back on tenor sax with a samba-like rendition of “I Remember,” from the BPB’s first album. Bob Summers delivered some soulful work on the flugelhorn   with harmonic support from the woodwinds, alternating from an all flute background to a medley of saxophones. And speaking of stellar section work, the trombones, who had carried less solo work most of the night, performed beautifully in “It’s Not Polite To Point” with Jason Thor and Craig Gosnell joining Torres and Morillas in a perfect blending of the four horns.

Mostly, though, it was the rip-roaring numbers that had the capacity crowd on their feet. There was “Hunting Wabbits III,” the third variation of Goodwin’s salute to the Warner Brothers cartoon themes. “Sing Sang Sung,” which opened up the second set, is based on Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing” and featured more great clarinet work by Kevin Garren. Lead tenor man Brian Scanlon, after losing a pad on his horn, borrowed Goodwin’s and blew through “Rippin’ N Runnin’ from the new album.  By the time the Big Phat Band finished off the night with “The Jazz Police,”  highlighted by percussionist Joey DeLeon and drummer Bernie Dresel tearing things up, the audience and band alike were on the edge of exhaustion.

Which is the way it ought to be. The next time I see this band it will be opening the main stage show at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September. I’m sure it will be great, but I won’t be sitting two feet from the band, trading eights in my mind with the horn section.

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To read more iRoM  reviews and posts by Michael Katz, click HERE.

To visit Michael Katz’s personal blog, “Katz of the Day,” click HERE.

Picks of the Week: June 5 – 10

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- June 5. (Tues.)  “And Then She Wrote.”  Peter Marshall, Carol Welsman, Calabria Foti.  Five time Emmy Award-winning Marshall (Yes, he sings, too) is joined by the lovely singer/instrumentalists Welsman and Foti in an evening of great standards written by women. Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- June 5. (Tues.)  Corliss Dale and Lou Forestieri.  Pianist/arranger  Forestieri’s impressive resume reaches from Stanley Clarke to Mel Torme and beyond.  He and his singing wife Dale have released a pair of impressive albums of standards; Fascinating Rhythms and Crazy Rhythm.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.     (310) 474-9400.

- June 6. (Wed.)  The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses.  The music from one of the most popular video games of all time is performed by a full orchestra.  The program features music based on story lines from “Ocarina of Time,” “The Wind Waker,” “Twilight Princess” and “A Link to the Past.” The Greek Theatre.  (323) 665-5857.

Fabiana Passoni

- June 7. (Thurs.) Fabiana Passoni.  Her sultry vocals have earned Passoni the title of Best Brazilian Singer Living in the U.S. from the Brazilian International Press.  Despite the difficult interruptions of a three year battle with cancer, her musical journey has continued to discover new areas of creativity.  She’ll be backed by a ten piece band featuring the stellar presence of, among others, pianist Bill Cantos and guitarist Kleber Jorge. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.    (310) 474-9400.  Also at Yoshi’s San Francisco on Sun. (See below.)

- June 7 – 9. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Freddy Cole Quartet.  If the voice sounds familiar, don’t be surprised.  He’s Nat Cole’s younger brother, and he’s fashioned those memorable vocal timbres into an appealing style all his own.  At a time when engaging male jazz singers are in short supply, don’t miss the chance to hear Cole in action.  Catalina Bar & Grill.   (323) 466-2210.

- June 7 – 9. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Peter Cetera.  If the name doesn’t instantly ring a bell, think “Chicago.”  And, no, not the city, the great rock group of the ‘70s that rode to fame on Cetera’s memorable vocals.  Segerstrom Center for the Arts.     (714) 556-2787.

- June 8. (Fri.) Primus.  For nearly three decades Primus has been stretching the envelope in the style of Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd.  Also on the bill, Fishbone, a high visibility presence in L.A.’s alternative rock scene since the ‘80s.  Greek Theatre.   (323) 665-5857.

Ernie Watts

- June 8. (Fri.)  Ernie Watts.  Grammy-winner Watts’ versatile saxophone playing has been heard over the past four decades on more than 500 recordings in the company of artists reaching from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa.  And he’s still going strong.  LACMA.    (323) 857-6000.

- June 8. (Fri.) Big Phat Band.  Gordon Goodwin’s collection of L.A. all-stars perform selections from his always-swinging book of originals and re-invented standards.  Vitello’s.    (818) 769-0905.

- June 10. (Sun.)  Los Angeles Master Chorale. Tribute to Gorecki.  The superb voices of the LAMC close the season with a trio of sonically mesmerizing works by the great Polish composer, as well as the Brahms motet for chorus, Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz.  Disney Hall.   (323) 850-2000.

- June 10. (Sun.)  Chickenfoot.  All-star rock group Chickenfoot – Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar – arrive in support of their latest album, Chickenfoot III.  Also on the bill – Black Stone Cherry. Greek Theatre.  (323) 665-5857.

San Francisco

Rick Braun

- June 8 – 10.  (Fri. – Sun.)  Rick Braun. Trumpeter/vocalist Braun, following in the Chet Baker footsteps, combining his warm and amiable vocals with an appealingly melodic trumpet style.  Yoshi’s Oakland.    (510) 238-9200.

June 10. (Sun.)   Fabiana Passoni.  Brazilian singer Passoni makes her second California appearance this week.  See above L.A. entry for more details.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.    (415) 655-5600.

Washington D.C.

- June 8 – 10.  (Fri. – Sun.)  Kenny Garrett. Cutting edge alto saxophonist Garrett’s early roots trace to a five year stint with Miles Davis’ electric bands.  But he’s traveled his own path since then, fully apparent in his latest album, Seeds From the Underground.  Blues Alley.  http://bluesalley.com/events.cfm  (202) 337-4141.

New York

Karrin Allyson

- June 5 – 9. (Tues. – Sat.)  Karrin Allyson. Twenty years after her debut album, I Didn’t Know About You, was released, Allyson continues to set standards for what great jazz singing can and should be – via her superb musicality, rich sense of swing and her utterly engrossing storytelling abilities.  Birdland.    (212) 581-3080.

- June 5 – 10. (Tues. – Sun.)  Renee Rosnes Quartet.  Pianist Rosnes, always a jazz adventurer, checks out fascinating territories with the world class companionship of Steve Nelson, vibes, Peter Washington, bass and Lewis Nash, drums.  Village Vanguard.   (212) 929-4589.

- June 5 – 10. (Tues. – Sun.)  Dudka Da Fonseca & Helio Alves.  “Samba, Jazz and the Music of Jobim”  An evening revealing, in delightfully rhythmic fashion, the creatively compelling links between jazz and the music of Brazil. With Anat Cohen, Claudio Roditi, George Mraz and Maucha Adnet.  Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola.    (212) 258-9800.

- June 7 – 10. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Charles McPherson. Alto saxophonist McPherson has been convincingly carrying the torch for bebop since he performed on the soundtrack of Clint Eastwood’s 1988 Charlie Parker film, Bird.   Jazz Standard.   (212) 576-2232.

London

Danilo Perez

- June 6 (Wed.)  Danilo Perez.  Panama-born pianist/composer/educator Perez’s career arc reaches from intimate musical relationships with Dizzy Gillespie to Wayne Shorter.  With a lot of stops in between, thoroughly establishing himself as one of the influential jazz voices of his generation.  Ronnie Scott’s.   020 7439 0747.

Live Jazz: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Vitello’s

By Don Heckman

The performance by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band at Vitello’s Friday night was a hearty reminder of the decades when big bands were the stars of popular music.  Some of those bands – Count Basie, Duke Ellington – were firmly rooted in jazz.  Others – Sammy Kaye, Guy Lombardo – played music primarily for dancing.  And still others – Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller – did both.  Something for most musical tastes, in other words, during an era in which jazz qualities were so strongly present in the music – with even the Kayes and the Lombardos occasionally dipping into jitterbug-pleasing swing rhythms – that jazz and pop music were virtually synonymous.

But no more, of course, at least since the arrival of the electric guitar.  To saxophonist/pianist Goodwin’s credit, however, he continues to keep a band alive – via the attractions of his writing and the qualities of the Phat Band’s players – that remains firmly in touch with the appealing qualities of the big Swing bands.  And thoroughly receptive to its contemporary surroundings, as well.Friday’s opening set provided an impressive display of all those qualities.  Among the highlights: Goodwin’s Grammy-nominated arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue and his original composition – also Grammy-nominated – Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn).

The Gershwin classic was rendered with a rhythmic panache that energized all its inherent jazz qualities, especially aided by the clarinet work of Sal Lozano and the stunning trumpet of Wayne Bergeron.  One suspects that Gershwin would have been pleased.

So, too for Wabbits, Goodwin’s third installment of this cartoon-inspired theme, a quirky, musically whimsical reminder of how much the animation world of Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse and Woody Woodpecker was inspired by jazz.  Here, as elsewhere throughout the set, the band’s ever-present rhythmic vitality was propelled by the dynamic drumming of Bernie Dresel.

Another Goodwin original, “Race To the Bridge,” was a kind of jazz concerto grosso featuring each of the band’s stellar sections.  The result was a display of sheer musical excitement.

The evening’s only hiccup took place during the guest artist section, which featured singer Becky Martin and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.  Martin was ebullient and assertive in a lively version of “Cheek To Cheek,” and Sandoval offered some of his familiar Dizzy Gillespie recollections in “Night in Tunisia.”  Neither piece, however – with the exception of a saxophone section harmonization of Charlie Parker’s famous high speed break in “Night in Tunisia” – did enough to sustain the spirited qualities of the Big Phat Band in action.

But that’s a small carp for an evening of memorable musical pleasures.  If anyone’s looking for a convincing template of how to bring the big bands back to the center of American music…check out Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.   

Picks of the Week: Jan. 31 – Feb. 5

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

Anthony Wilson

- Jan. 31. (Tues.)  Anthony Wilson.  He’s had a lot of visibility the past few years backing Diana Krall, but Wilson’s a certified jazz star in his own right – as a performer, a composer and a band leader.  This time out, he gets back to basics with guitarist and host John Pisano in the laid back format of  Guitar Night.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- Jan. 31. (Tues.)  Sheldon Reynolds’ “Elements of Fire.”  A guitarist and lead singer with Earth, Wind and Fire in the ’80s and ’90s, Reynolds revisits some of the Grammy-winning ensemble’s greatest hits.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.   (310) 474-9400.

- Feb. 2 (Thurs.)  The Salzburg Chamber Soloists.  The critically praised members of the SCS reveal their musical versatility with a diverse program featuring works by Mozart, Ravel, Britten and Janacek.  The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.    (562) 916-8501.

Windy Karigianes

- Feb. 2 (Thurs.)  Windy Karigianes.  Las Vegas singer Karigianes hasn’t had a lot of wide visibility yet, but the warmth of her sound, her briskly rhythmic style and evocative interpretations bode well for her future.  Saxophonist Brandon Fields will be her special guest.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.   (310) 474-9400.

- Feb. 2. (Thurs.)  Doug MacDonald Organ Quartet.  Guitarist MacDonald dips into a deep groove with the vibrant assistance of organ playing and vocals of Bobby Pierce, the tenor saxophone of Clarence Webb and the drumming and vocals of Harold Acey.  The LAX Jazz Club at the Crowne Plaza.   (310) 258-1333.

- Feb. 2 – 4. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Bobby Caldwell. It’s a safe bet that Caldwell won’t get through the night without singing his 1978 hit, “What You Won’t Do For Love.”  But he’s got plenty of other past hits in his resume, as well as an easygoing, appealing way of dealing with everything from American Songbook classics to his own catalog of memorable originals.  Catalina Bar & Grill.   (323) 466-2210.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers

- Feb. 3. (Fri.)  The Flying Karamazov Brothers.  Juggling’s their game, and comedy’s a good part of their fame.  How could it be otherwise with a whimsical group of experts who juggle everything from apples and swords to fish and flaming torches.  There’s nothing quite like them.  Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.    (562) 916-8501.

- Feb. 3. (Fri.)  Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.  Saxophonist/pianist/bandleader has accomplished the jazz world miracle of not only keeping a big band together, but doing so with an impressive display of engaging, hard swinging musicality.  No surprise that the Phat Band has a Grammy nomination this year.  Vitello’s.    (818) 769-0905.

- Feb. 3. (Fri.)  Trio M.  With Myra Melford, piano, Mark Dresser, bass, Matt Wilson, drums.  The instrumentation may be the same as the classic jazz piano trio, but Trio M — Myra, Mark, Matt — has set no stylistic limits.  A true creative musical collective, each of its stellar members brings his or her artistic vision to the trio’s unbounded explorations.  The Musicians Institute Concert Center.  A Jazz Bakery Movable Feast.    (310) 271-9039.

- Feb. 3. (Fri.)  John Beasley and Dwight Trible.  “First Fridays Jazz Series.”  Pianist Beasley ands singer Trible, performing with stunning musical empathy, celebrate the release of their album, Duality, as a headliner event in the First Friday Jazz Series at Joe’s Restaurant.    (310) 399-5811.

- Feb. 3 & 4. (Fri. & Sat.)  Ben Wendel.  Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Wendel showcases his eclectic creative skills in a celebration of his new album, Frame. Blue Whale.  (213) 620-0908.

San Francisco

Peter Erskine

- Feb. 1 (Wed.)  The Peter Erskine New Trio.  Grammy-winning Peter Erskine has drummed with everyone from Stan Kenton to Pat Metheny, with all stops in between.  But one of the best ways to hear his subtle rhythms is with his own impressive new trio, featuring pianist Vardan Ovsepian and bassist (and nephew) Damian Erskine.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.   (415) 655-5600.

New York

- Jan. 31 – Feb. 4. (Tues. – Sat.)  David Sanchez Quartet.  Grammy-winning, and frequently Grammy-nominated Sanchez is one of the rare saxophonists who has found inspiration in John Coltrane, while continuing to explore the essentials of his own style and creativity.  He’s backed by drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Matt Brewer and guitarist Adam Rogers. Jazz Standard.  l.  (212) 576-2232.

Simone Dinnerstein

- Feb. 2 (Thurs.)  Simone Dinnerstein.  Bach and the Romantics.  Whether it’s baroque, classical or romantic, Dinnerstein approaches the piano with a transparency that takes the listener into the very origins of the music she plays.  This time she offers a program reaching from Bach through Schubert, Chopin and Brahms.  The Miller Theatre at the Columbia University School of the Arts.    (212) 854-7799.

- Feb. 3. (Fri.)  The Ben Monder, Theo Bleckmann Duo.  Guitarist Monder and vocalist Bleckmann, each an adventurous musical explorer in his own right, take on even more unusual creative territories when they come together as a team.  Cornelia St. Café.    (212) 989-9319.

London

- Jan. 31. (Tues.)  Mark Murphy. One of the great veterans of the jazz vocal art.  Approaching 80, he continues to offer definitive displays of his still potent, richly creative abilities. Ronnie Scott’s.   020 7439 0747

Berlin

- Feb. 5. (Sun.)  Becca Stevens. Singer, composer and multiple instrumentalist (guitar, ukulele and charango), Stevens also manages to find a way to embrace folk, classical and pop in her idiosyncratic, jazz-tinged music.   A-Trane.   030/313 25 50.  Critically acclaimed 2011 album, Weightless.

Peter Erskine photo by Tony Gieske. 

Picks of the Week: April 11 – 17

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

-  April 11. (Mon.)  Cabaret Cares.  A Song For Japan. A benefit performance to aid the stricken populace of Japan features cabaret artists Andrea Marcovicci, Daisy Eagan, Lee Lessack, Sharon McNight and others.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  .

John Pisano

- April 12. (Tues.)  John Pisano’s Guitar Night.  With Sid Jacobs and John Leftwich.  Pisano’s Tuesday Guitar Nights just keep on cooking.  And with Jacobs and Leftwich also on stage, the rhythms will be crisp and the imagination wide open.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

-April 12. (Tues.)  John Daversa Big Band.  Trumpeter Daversa’s exploratory approach to big jazz band sounds is producing some consistently adventurous music.  To read a recent iRoM review of the Daversa Big Band click HERE.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

- April. 12. (Tues.)  Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band. The always swinging, always entertaining Big Phat Band celebrates the release of their new CD, That’s How We Roll. Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  .

- April 13. (Wed.) Mike Lang Trio. Pianist Lang has a resume that includes gigs with the likes of Natalie Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand and more, recordings with Henry Mancini, John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, and a long string of film and TV credits.  This time out, he’s doing it his own way, backed by bassist Michael Valerio and drummer Jim Keltner.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210. .

- April 14. (Thurs.)  Duran Duran.  They’re back.  The sounds of the eighties that made all the young girls quiver, still playing the hits.  Fox Theatre Pomona.   (909) 784-3671.

Denise Donatelli

- April 14. (Thurs.)  Denise Donatelli. Grammy-nominated Donatelli’s dark-timbred voice and imaginative singing will prove, once again, why she really should have won that award.  Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.

- April 14 – 16. (Thurs. – Sat.)  Victor Wooten Band.  Five time Grammy Award winner Wooten displays the bass playing dexterity and free-roving imagination that make him one of the important artists of his generation.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.  .

- April 15. (Fri.)  Michael Wolff.  Pianist Wolff, heard to rarely in these parts, plays his second Vitello’s gig in a couple of weeks.  This time, his musical companions will be trumpeter Mark Isham, bassist John B. Williams and drummer Michael Barsimento.  Click HERE to read an iRoM review of a recent Wolff performance.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- April 15. (Fri.)  2^nd Proverb Trio.  An unusually intriguing approach to small ensemble jazz features Dafnis Prieto, drums, Kokayi, vocals and poetry and Jason Lindner, keyboards.  A Jazz Bakery Movable Feast at  the Musicians Institute Concert Hall.  \.

- April 15. (Fri.)  Tom Peterson/Andy Martin Quartet.  Saxophonist Peterson and trombonist Martin, first call players on their instruments, take a break from playing for everyone else, and step to the front of the stage. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

- April 16. (Sat. ) Improvisatory Minds: Chamber Music by Jazz Musicians.  It’s an evening that promises to provide some of the more intriguing musical explorations of recent memory.  On the bill: works by Bevan Manson, Ed Neumeister, and Gernot Wolfgang, with guest composers Billy Childs and Alan Broadbent.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

Judy Wexler

- April 16. (Sat.)  Judy Wexler.  Versatile Ms. Wexler is a singer who finds the essence of jazz in everything she sings, regardless of genre.  She celebrates her birthday with a prime evening of music.  Café 322.    (626) 836-5414

- April 16 & 17. (Sat. & Sun.)  Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks.  They may not have found musical companionship in their early years, but Stewart and Nicks seem perfectly attuned to share a stage in the prime maturity of their careers.  Hollywood Bowl.   (323) 850-2000.

- April 16 & 17. (Sat. & Sun.)  The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.  Music Director Jeffrey Kahane leads the LACO in a performance of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with pianist Jon Kimura Parker.  Also on the program: Dvorak’s lyrical Serenade in E Major for Strings and composer John Harbison’s whimsical Gli accordi piu usati (“The most often used chords”).  Saturday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.  Sunday at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  For information click HERE.  (213)  622-7001 Ext. 215.

San Francisco

- April 15. (Fri.)  Dr. Lonnie Smith and Barbara Dennerlein. It’s a night for B-3 organ fireworks.  The groove pyrotechnics of Dr. Lonnie and the hard driving rhythmic charge of German-born Dennerlein.  SFJAZZ Spring Season at the Herbst Theatre.  (566) 920-5299.

- April 15 & 16. (Fri. & Sat.)  Maceo Parker.  Alto saxophonist Parker’s funk roots trace back to his highly visible work with James Brown.  Since then, he’s performed with every imaginable funk band, including his own “greatest little funk band on earth.”  He makes his debut performance at Yoshi’s San Francisco.   (415) 655-5600.

New York

- April 12 & 13.  (Tues. & Wed.)  The Three Cohens.  Tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Anat Cohen, trumpeter Avishai Cohen and soprano saxophonist Yuval Cohen.  Three impressive jazz artists from the same Israeli family are a jazz

Anat Cohen

rarity.  But aside from that, they’re always a pleasure to hear, and never more so than when they’re in an infrequent public family jam.  Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.   (212) (212) 258-9595.

- April 12 – 17. (Tues. – Sun.)  Martial Solal & Francois Moutin Duo. There’s no better proof of France’s love affair with jazz than the teaming of these two extraordinary French artists in a cross generational gig – the great, veteran pianist Solal and the talented young bassist Moutin. Village Vanguard.   (212) 255-4037.

- April 13 (Wed.)  Kendra Shank – Steve Wilson – Frank Kimbrough.  Vocalist Shank, saxophonist Wilson and pianist Kimbrough will be performing standards, originals, songs by the likes of Thelonious Monk, Abbey Lincoln and others.  With the additional highlight of Shank’s imaginative “voice collages” – vocal improvisations with electronic loops.  Kitano Hotel.   (212) 885-7119.

Darcy James Argue

- April 14. (Thurs.)  Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society.  Fast rising composer arranger Argue’s writing for his big band, Secret Society, has been praised in media of every stripe.  Here’s a chance to hear the work of this gifted young artist in an up front and live setting.  Iridium.   (212) 582-2121.

- April 14 – 17. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet. Trumpeter Akinmusire leads a stellar collection of young players in a celebration of the release of his debut album on Blue Note, When the Heart Emerges Glistening. Jazz Standard.  (212) 576-2232.

John Pisano photo by Bob Barry.  Denise Donatelli and Judy Wexler photos by Faith Frenz.  Anat Cohen photo by Tony Gieske.

Live Jazz: The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band at Vitello’s

By Tony Gieske

Gordon Goodwin is one bandleader who really knows how to fill a room. I don’t know why his band looked so big. He doesn’t have strings or French horns or anything. But it seemed to fill half the upstairs room at Vitello’s Monday.

The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Phills Vitello's

I guess it’s just kind of a phat band, or Phat band, as he proclaimed on a wall-filling red, white and blue banner. I thought maybe he might have Pol Pot on trumpet, or maybe Phats Navarro.

Willie Murillo

No, it was a guy named Willie Murillo, who got off  alarming growl trumpet solos in the course of “Rhapsody in Blue.” Goodwin’s chart on this would have gladdened Gershwin’s melancholy heart. It rolled along like George’s old man river, only phaster.

And like every other number all night long, it swung, boldly and impeccably.   A player could not very well help doing that with the great Bernie Dressel, of Alf Clausen’s “The Simpsons” band and the Miles Evans band, at the drums.

Bernie Dressel

The great Wayne Bergeron, whose chops were a little down, ceded the trumpet glory to Murillo and later to the great Bob Summers, who devised a poised and well designed chorus or two on a classic ballad.

A charming looking young gent named Andrew Synowiec played electric guitar with clarity and momentum, and the bassist, Rick Shaw, had everybody’s back, no trivial  feat since there were 18 up there.

Fortunately, Shaw was working with a Panormo-style bass, a large, broad-shouldered Italian-bred instrument with a Stenholm “C” extension that  lowers the E string to a C.

Andy Martin

Among the other commanding soloists  were the renowned Andy Martin on trombone; the expert Brian  Scanlon, Jeff Driskill  and Sal Lozano on saxophones and fearless Jay Masen on baritone saxophone.

Aside from the stomach-turning red uniforms, what you remembered was this band’s bright but brawny precision — tight, agile and plenteous — and the masterly writing by Goodwin, which is as it should be with his training as a film  scorer on  FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Majestic, Glory Road, National Treasure, Remember the Titans, Armageddon, Star Trek: Nemesis, The Incredibles, Hot Rod, Get Smart, Snakes on a Plane, Race to Witch Mountain, Coach Carter, Bad Boys II, Con Air and Gone in 60 Seconds.

The Big Phat Brasses

As well as the beloved classic, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, his score for which the Phat boys sliced and salted with, uh, relish.

Photos by Tony Gieske.  To read and see more of Tony’s essays and photos at his personal web site click HERE.

Picks of the Week: Oct. 25 – 31

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- Oct. 25. (Mon.)  Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.  Los Angeles has a full crop of big bands, performing with some (if still not enough) frequency.  And the Big Phat band is one of the best, collectively and individually.  Hearing them at Vitello’s is like having them perform for your own private party.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- Oct. 26. (Tues.)  Kristin Korb.  Combining the seemingly incompatible skills of vocalizing and bass playing, Korb does so with ease, musicality and a rare quality of thoughtfulness in her musical story telling.  Charlie O’s.  (818) 994-3058.

Jason Marsalis

- Oct. 26. (Tues.)  Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet.  His older brothers have identified Jason as the most talented member of the Marsalis family.  And, whether true or not, there’s no doubting his ability.  A superb drummer, he’s been impressively exploring the vibes lately.  He performs with bassist Will Goble, pianist Austin Johnson and drummer David Potter.  Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- Oct. 27. (Wed.) Neil Sedaka. [This concert has been postponed due to illness.  It will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 7.  Original tickets for the Oct. 27 program will be valid on Dec. 7.] Singer/songwriter Sedaka was churning out hits just before the Beatles (and the British) arrived.  But he came back a decade later, and – at 71 – continues to entertain audiences with his familiar, and well-crafted songs. Disney Hall.   (323) 850-2000.

- Oct. 27. (Wed.) Larry Goldings Quartet.  With Harry Allen.  Keyboardist Goldings and saxophonist Allen – an eminently like-minded musical pair – offer a program featuring selections from their whimsically titled new album, When Larry Met Harry. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

- Oct. 28 – 30 (Thurs. – Sat.)  Three Phantoms In Concert.  A perfect Halloween celebration: Craig Shulman, Kevin Gray and Brad Little, all of whom have played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera, perform selections from that classic musical, as well as memorable songs from Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls, Nine and more.  Segerstrom Concert Hall in the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  (714) 556-2787.

Cheryl Bentyne

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Cheryl Bentyne “The Gershwin Songbook” Bentyne’s crystal sound has enlivened the Manhattan Transfer for decades.  Her solo excursions are equally compelling, and even more so when applied to the irresistible songs of the brothers Gershwin.  Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Moscow State Symphony.  Renowned for their interpretations of Russian classical music the Moscow State Symphony performs a diverse offering of great works.  On the program: Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, Op. 45,  Bruch’s Violin Concert No. 1 in g minor, Op. 26 with violinist Jennifer Koh, and the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.  (562) 916-8501.

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Bill Cantos Trio.  Pianist/singer/songwriter Cantos is a convincing musical hyphenate, bringing imagination, skill and swing to everything he plays. Hopefully he’ll play some of his own memorable songs.  Cantos will be joined by his equally versatile wife, singer/composer Mari Falcone.  The Culver Club at the Radisson.   (310) 649-1776 ext. 4137.

Julie Esposito

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Julie Esposito.  She’s an eclectic singer, capable of bringing musical authenticity to a far-reaching range of styles.  And, as  if that’s not enough,  Esposito manages to have an extensive career in law in her spare time.  (Or is it vice versa?)  This time out, she sings a mini-tribute to her father, the fine Chicago-based jazz pianist/arranger Gene Esposito.  Esposito also shares the stage with singer Frank Messina in a group of Broadway tunes and American Songbook standards.  The Gardenia.  West Hollywood.  (323) 467-7444.

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Blame Sally. The San Francisco-based quartet is an all-female collective of singer-songwriters: Pam Delgado, Renee Harcourt, Jeri Jones and Monica Pasqual.  But their gender is less significant than their expressive musicality — and the fact that each is a talented writer/performer with something unique to say.  Different though they may be, they perform with the empathic togetherness of musicians who intuit and value the musical connections that exist between them.  Boulevard Music.  (310) 398-2583.

- Oct. 30. (Sat.)  Monica Mancini and Friends.  Mancini’s latest album, I Loved These Days, features her convincing readings of songs from the singer/songwriter era of the ‘60s and ‘70s, aided by the presence of the likes of Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson and Jackson Brown.  Will they be among the “Friends” who appear with her?  Only one way to find out.  Catalina Bar & Grill.  (323) 466-2210.

- Oct. 30. (Sat.)  Tom Rotella Quartet.  Guitarist/composer Rotella has recorded with everyone from Cher and Frank Sinatra to Herbie Hancock and Luciano Pavarotti.  As well as writing and/or performing on soundtracks for Sex and the City, The Simpsons, The Tonight Show and more.  But he says he gets his greatest kicks performing live, which he’ll do with the Pat Senatore Trio.  Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.

Julie Kelly

- Oct. 30. (Sat.)  Julie Kelly’s Birthday Party.  Singer/guitarist Kelly brings a rare sense of joy to her songs – fully apparent on her new CD Everything I Love. She’ll be celebrating her birthday and the new album, backed by the John Heard Trio. Charlie O’s. (818) 994-3058.  And don’t forget that Julie appears regularly, concentrating on her love of Brazilian music in her Brazilian Hour Happy Hang, on Thursdays at Vitello’s.   (818) 769-0905.

- Oct. 31. (Sun.)  John Daversa’s Contemporary Big Band.  Trumpeter Daversa brings in Halloween with his “scary big band.”  With a stage full of L.A.’s first team players performing Daversa’s unpredictable, the results should be supernatural.  Baked Potato.   (818) 980-1615.

San Francisco

- Oct. 25. (Mon.)  Karrin Allyson.  Female jazz singers have been arriving by the dozen, but Allyson continues to hold her own as a convincingly complete jazz artist.  Expect to hear, and enjoy, her range across repertoire from John Coltrane to Antonio Carlos Jobim.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.   (415) 655-5600.

- Oct. 27. (Wed.)  Harvey Wainapel’s Alegritude.  Saxophonist/clarinetist Wainapel has spent more than a decade in Brazil.  His group Alegritude is the product of everything he learned during those years of immersion in bossa nova, samba and all the other rich elements of Brazilian music. Yoshi’s Oakland.   (510) 238-9200.

Leo Kottke

- Oct. 27 – 29. (Wed. – Fri.)  Leo Kottke.  Multiple Grammy-nominated Kottke achieved high visibility during the singer/songwriter years of the ‘70s.  But the roots of his music – then and now – have always been in his impressive acoustic guitar virtuosity.  Yoshi’s San Francisco.   (415) 655-5600.

- Oct. 29. (Fri.)  Bitches Brew Revisited. The 40th anniversary year of Miles Davis’ iconic Bitches Brew is celebrated in contemporary fashion by the group of Graham Haynes, trumpet, Marco Benevento, keyboards, Antoine Roney, woodwinds, James “Blood” Ulmer, guitar, DJ Logic, turntables.  An SFJAZZ Festival event at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. (866) 920-5299.

- Oct. 30. (Sat.)  Nellie McKay.  Quirky singer/songwriter/pianist McKay brings wit and a sardonic humor to songs that range from well targeted social activism to subtly engaging lyricism.  An SFJAZZ Festival event at the YCA Forum.   (866) 920-5299.

New York

- Oct. 26 – 30. (Tues. – Sat.)  Pat Martino Organ Quartet.  Guitarist Martino makes the most of the classic organ quartet format with a line-up that includes Tony Monaco, Hammond B-3 organ, Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone and Jason Brown, drums.  Birdland.   (212) 581-3080.

Gerald Clayton

- Oct. 26 – 31. (Tues. – Sun.) Gerald Clayton Trio.  L.A.’s Clayton – whose father John and uncle Jeff are two of the co-leaders of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – is thoroughly establishing himself as one of New York’s rapidly rising young jazz piano talents. Village Vanguard.   (212) 929-4598.

- Oct. 28 – 31. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Houston Person Quartet. Tenor saxophonist Person’s muscular sound and expressive style spent years working with Etta Jones.  But he’s a powerful player in his own right, mixing bebop with a strong seasoning of soul.  Jazz Standard.   (212) 576-2232.

- Oct. 28 – 31. (Thurs. – Sun.)  Mike Clark’s Indigo Blue.  Clark’s drumming was one of the driving forces in Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, and his funk drumming beats have been sampled by everyone from Prince to Janet Jackson.  But he’s been stepping out on his own lately, as he does here with the stellar ensemble of trumpet Nicholas Payton, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison and bassist Christian McBride.  Irididum.  (212) 582-2121.

Picks of the Week: August 25 – 30

By Don Heckman

Los Angeles

- Aug. 25. (Tues.) Placido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma and the L.A. Philharmonic. What a combination. Domingo conducts Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Symphony No. 5 and Ma plays Dvorak’s controversial, but compelling, Cello Concerto. Hollywood Bowl (323) 850- 2000.

- Aug. 25. (Tues.) Dana Bronson. Singer/pianst Bronson usually performs in cabaret and hotel venues. Here’s a chance for him to open up his repertoire in the Southland’s premiere jazz setting. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210

- Aug. 25. (Tues.) John Pisano’s Guitar Night continues to be one of the Southland’s most dependable jazz destinations. This week Pisano hosts guitarist John Chiodini, bassist John Hughart and drummer Enzo Tedesco, Spazio.

- Aug.. 25. (Tues.) The Sam Most Trio with organist Joe Bagg and drummer Mark Ferber. The veteran Most was one of the first jazz flutists, but he’s also an impressive exponent of the cool tenor saxophone style. Bar Melody. (310) 670-1994.

- Aug. 26. (Wed.) Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Here it is — one of the Bowl’s major jazz highlights of the summer. In addition to the sizzling Gillespie band, the evening also includes the irrepressible James Moody, the irresistible Roberta Gambarini, the Roy Hargrove Big Band and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000

- Aug. 27. (Thurs) An Evening with Terence Blanchard. The trumpeter/composer discusses his new CD, “Choices,” his film composing and his educational work with Robert Santelli, the Grammy Museum’s Executive Director, before playing selections from “Choices” with his full band. The Grammy Museum. (213) 765-6800.

- Aug. 27. (Thurs.) Theo Saunders Sextet. Pianist Saunders has assembled a sterling ensemble to perform selections emphasizing his belief that a musician should “Play what you hear, not what you think you hear.” The group includes Zane Musa, alto and soprano saxophones, Chuck Manning, tenor and soprano saxophones, David Dahlsten, trombone, Jeff Littleton, bass and Tony Austin, drums. Vibrato. (310) 474-9400.

- Aug. 27. (Thurs.) Dewey Ernie-Ron Eschete 4-Tet. Ernie, a songwriter’s singer, has been placing all of his considerable story-telling skills at the service of American songs for decades. He’s in particularly supportive circumstances whenever he works with his long time associate, the versatile guitarist, Eschete. Steamers. (714) 871-8800

- Aug. 27 – 29. (Thurs. – Sat.) Pharoah Sanders Quartet. Sanders keeps the adventurousness of the 60s alive in a tenor saxophone style that nonetheless always expresses itself in utterly contemporary fashion. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.

- August 28 – 29. (Fri. & Sat.) Liza Minnelli. The diva of divas makes her return to the Bowl after a recent induction into the venue’s Hall of Fame and the conclusion, in January, of her hit Broadway show. Expect the kind of entertainment fireworks that only Minnelli can trigger. The Hollywood Bowl. (323) 850-2000

- Aug. 28 & 29. (Fri. & Sat.) Sara Gazarek. The ever-adventurous Gazarek displays her boundary-less vocal skills in a pair of performances with the German group triosence and guitarist Vitally Zolotov. On Friday at Cafe Metropole. (213) 613-1537. On Sat. at Irvine Barclay Theatre. (949) 854-4646-

- Aug. 28 & 29. (Fri. & Sat.) The Jazz All-Stars: Patrice Rushen, piano, John B. Williams, bass, Ralph Penland, drums. The label might seem a little presumptuous, but not when it’s applied to players like Rushen, WIlliams and Penland. On Saturday night’s special guest, Billy Valentine joins the Stars on vocals. Spazio. (818) 728-8400

- Aug. 29. (Sat.) Ernie Andrews and Dori Caymmi. The Grammy Museum Jazz Bakery show. It’s accurately described as “Blues to Bossa” and no one can illuminate those categories better than Andrews and Caymmi. The performance is also another reminder that the Jazz Bakery is still alive and well, looking forward to opening in a brand new venue. The Grammy Museum. (213) 765-6800.

San Diego

- Aug. 28 & 29. (Fri. & Sat.) Strunz and Farah. They’ve been around since world music was more a generalization than a category, and the two-guitar duo continue to combine their Costa Rican (Strunz) and Iranian (Farah) roots into a mesmerizing two-guitar musical blend. Anthology. (619) 595-0300.

San Francisco

August 28 – 30. Outside Lands Music & Art Festival. There’s a ton of musical action for every taste in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park this weekend. Among the highlights: on Friday — Pearl Jam, Thievery Corporation, Tom Jones, Zap Mama; on Saturday — the Dave Matthews Band, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, Jason Mraz, Os Mutantes, Trombone Shorty; on Sunday — Tenacious D, M.I.M., Ween, Modest Mouse, Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph. And many, many more. San Francisco Golden Gate Park Outside Lands Music & Art Festival.

New York

- Aug. 25. (Tues.) Sachal Vasandani, Billboard praised the young singer’s first CD as “a superb debut of distinctive originals and intelligent makeovers that teem with a fresh vitality.” His second Mack Avenue CD is due out in September. The Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2252

- Aug. 25 – 29. (Tues. – Sat.) Hank Jones Trio + Special Guests. The ninety-something Jones, still playing like a veteran youngster, demonstrates that he can trade riffs with anyone. He’ll be performing with Armand Hirsch (guitar 8/25-29), Terrell Stafford (trumpet, 8/25) Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone, 8/26) Joe Wilder (trumpet (8/27), Ravi Coltrane (tenor saxophone (8/28), Frank Wess (tenor saxophone/flute (8/29), George Mraz, bass. Willie Jones III or Quincy Davis, drums. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.

- Aug. 25 – 30. (Tues. – Sun.) Paul Motian, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell. It doesn’t get much more stellar than this combination, and it will be fascinating to hear how these three creative individualists find improvisational common ground. (Their booking — for two weeks — also includes Sept. 1 – Sept. 6.) The Village Vanguard. (212) 255-4037.

- Aug. 26. (Wed.) Julia Dollison and Kerry Marsh: “The Music of Maria Schneider.” When Dollison and Marsh told Schneider they were planning to do vocal versions of her big band music, she thought they were crazy. But they persuaded her otherwise, and here’s an opportunity to hear their remarkable vocal transformations live. Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2252

- Aug. 28 (Fri.) Kendra Shank. With a talent that can find the beating heart of any song — whether it comes from the pop or jazz worlds or elsewhere — Shank is a singer who reveals something special in every performance. 55 Bar. (212) 929-9883.

Washington, D.C.

- Aug. 27 – 29. (Thurs. – Sat.) John Surman Quartet. With Jack DeJohnette, drums, Drew Gess, bass, John Abercrombie, guitar. Surman’s duo performances with DeJohnette have been extraordinary experiences. The addition of Gess and Abercrombie should make the encounters even more fascinating. Blues Alley. (202) 337-4141.

Here There & Everywhere: Herbie Hancock, The Hollywood Bowl and the Jazz Bakery

By Don Heckman

Herbie Hancock

There’s been some good news, bad news and in-between news this week out here on the Left Coast.  The good news is that the Los Angeles Philharmonic has appointed Herbie Hancock for a two year term as the new Creative Chair for Jazz, starting in 2010.  He replaces Christian McBride, who has held the job since 2006.  If anything, it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for Herbie to get the job.  But better late than never.

One of the position’s most significant tasks is recommending jazz programming for the summer season at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as the Fall through Spring season at Walt Disney Hall.  The difficulties of creating that programming in a venue that seats over 18,000, became crystal clear in the Philharmonic announcement of the jazz schedule for the 2009 Bowl season – still under the guidance of McBride.

The list of names will surely draw, at the very least, questioning glances from anyone who expects jazz programs to actually include jazz artists.  The three scheduled jazz performances for July, for example, consist of appearances by Sergio Mendes, Eddie Palmieri and Poncho Sanchez (7/8), Natalie Cole (7/15), and Boney James and Fourplay (7/22).  The August programs consist of a recreation of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans’ “Porgy and Bess,” “Sketches of Spain” and “Miles Ahead,” with trumpet playing from Terence Blanchard and Nicholas Payton (8/5), a concert featuring Buddy Guy, Dr. John and James Cotton (8/12), an evening with Patti Labelle (8/19), and a performance by the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, James Moody and the Roy Hargrove Big Band and the Big Phat Band (8/26).  The final date, on September 2, showcases the almost-Return-To-Forever Trio of Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White.

That’s a total of three, maybe four or four and a half, authentic jazz dates out of a total of eight scheduled “jazz” events.  So let’s call that the in-between news.

Ruth Price at the Jazz Bakery

The bad news is that the Jazz Bakery‘s lease will expire on May 31.  Ruth Price, the diva-in-charge of the fabled venue says she’s hoping to reopen at a new site on the Westside in the Fall.  A few events, using the Jazz Bakery brand, will be held over the summer, obviously in the hope of keeping the name alive.

This is, in fact, a sword that’s been threatening to drop for a while.  And the Bakery’s unsteady situation was undoubtedly exacerbated when the opening of the trendy Father’s Office restaurant — a few doors away from the Bakery in the old Helms Bakery building – brought crowds into the area who were not necessarily jazz aficionados and reducing parking to a minimum.

One can only hope that Price is right (no pun intended), that she will find a new, appropriate venue that can duplicate the concert style setting that made the Jazz Bakery a favorite among both musicians and their listeners.  If not, then yet another important era in Southland jazz history will have ended.

CD Review: The Big Phat Band

“Act Your Age” (Immergent)

By Devon Wendell

We jazz purists in pursuit of the next revolutionary original sound sometimes forget to curb our obsessive-compulsive enthusiasm and simply enjoy some fun music. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band’s multi-Grammy nominated album ”Act Your Age” is simply fun – which may be exactly what we need during these turbulent times.

Produced by Lee Ritenour, Dan Savant, and Goodwin himself, “Act Your Age” is the fourth album by this popular Southern California native and his band. Goodwin is a triple threat, playing tenor and soprano sax as well as piano over some well thought-out, funky big band arrangements.  The Big Phat Band’s stellar horn section includes familiar West Coast players such as trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and trombonist Andy Martin.  There are also several special guests.  Ritenour lends his tasty guitar skills to a revamping of the Earth, Wind and Fire classic “September,” with Patti Austin on vocals.  Other guests performers include Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, and Nathan East.

Goodwin’s boldest and most satisfying move, however, is “Yesterday,” in which Art Tatum’s piano track is overdubbed with full band backing. Although the jazz world has been saturated with take after take of the Kern and Harbach standard, Goodwin’s experiment is surprisingly the album’s highlight, with an original Goodwin arrangement that showcases the dynamics of the Big Phat Band’s horns with Tatum’s remarkable piano work.

Like many of the pieces, the opening Goodwin original, “Hit The Ground Running,” feels like a cross between something from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters period and Quincy Jones 90′s slick pop/funk orchestral explorations. Goodwin’s tenor playing, which weaves in and out of the big brass arrangements, is stylistically close to that of David Sandborn’s more polished works, but effective enough not to distract from the buoyancy of the composition.  Curiously, the Big Phat Band’s take on “Watermelon Man” sounds less like a direct nod to Hancock than some of the album’s other tracks – though Herbie’s influence is continuously evident in Goodwin’s piano work, which comes off much stronger than his sax solos.

Bottom line: Goodwin isn’t setting out to be the next Coltrane or  Ellington, but this good time music arrives at precisely the right time.