V.S.O.P. #127 CD THE DAVID ANGEL BIG BAND
1973 Session: David Angel (Alto, Leader), Bill Perkins (Alto, Flute), Jackie Kelso (Tenor Clarinet), Bob Cooper (Tenor, Oboe, English Horn), Steve Kravitz (Baritone, Bass Clarinet), Hal Espinoza (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Jack Coan (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Gary Rains (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Bob Payne (Trombone), David Dahlsten (Trombone), Don Waldrop (Bass Trombone, Tuba), Michel Mention (Piano), Monty Budwig (Bass), Charlie Meyerson (Guitar), Chuck Flores (Drums)
1975 Session*: David Angel (Alto, Leader), Bill Perkins (Alto, Flute), Jackie Kelso (Tenor, Clarinet), Bob Cooper (Tenor, Oboe, English Horn), Steve Kravitz (Baritone, Bass Clarinet), Jack Coan (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Stuart Aptikar (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Ron Gorow (Trumpet, Flugelhorn), Bob Enevoldsen (Trombone), David Dahlsten (Trombone), Morris Repass (Bass Trombone), John Banister (Piano), Bob Saravia (Bass), Charlie Meyerson (Guitar), Carl Rigoli (Drums), Munyoungo Jackson (Percussion) .
Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, recorded at Sage & Sound Studios, Hollywood, CA, September, 1973. Engineer: Jim Mooney *Tracks 4, 7, 8, 9 recorded at Sage & Sound Studios, Hollywood, CA, February, 1975 Engineer: Jim Mooney All selections composed and arranged by David AngelSession Producer: David Angel. Liner Notes: Scott Yanow.
David Angel is one of the best-known unknown composers and arrangers in jazz today, having worked on the soundtracks for Bonanza, Laugh-In, The Streets of San Francisco, The Jerry Lewis show, Sonny & Cher, etc. He was also the arranger on Love's 1967 Elektra Records release, "Forever Changes", one of rock's most iconic albums, ranking 40th on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Times". His unique composing and arranging style combines classical techniques with big band jazz arranging in a distinct and individualistic manner. He is also a great though understated reed man. Some of the finest Hollywood studio musicians have played his charts at his weekly rehearsals at Local 47. This release features Bob Cooper, Bill Perkins, Jackie Kelso, and Bob Enevoldsen, among others, in sessions recorded in 1973 and 1975 at Sage and Sound. David regards this material as among his best in a long and musically rich career that has contributed some remarkable music, much of it enhancing the reputation of others.
The title of this CD, "Camshafts and Butterflies" refers more to the style of David Angel's composing than to whether the selection is the most significant on the program. David is a masterful writer. Mostly self-taught, having started writing charts at a very young age, he progressed to the point of teaching at the Dick Grove School of Music and at conservatories in France, Norway, Belgium, Russia and Switzerland, where he still teaches. His big band was started in the mid-1960's, although his public performances are quite rare. David writes extensively for reeds, so he has attracted every major saxophone player in Los Angeles to his rehearsals, including Art Pepper, Bill Perkins, Bob Cooper, Herb Geller, Bud Shank, Pete Christlieb, Jack Nimitz, and many others...and that is just the reed section. The selections on this program follow the order that these compositions would have been played during a rehearsal. All compositions and arrangements on this CD are by David Angel. For the most part, they go from "butterflies" to "camshafts", though most are a mixture of both. Everything about this music is both familiar and different. David Angel is in a league with Clare Fischer, Bob Florence, Bill Holman, and other top modern jazz composers and arrangers. This is exciting music played by some of the finest musicians, written by one of the truy great writers whose work for the first time is being directly exposed to the public.
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Other sources for this CD: City Hall Records
