Though he's normally known for reinventing the works of Frank Zappa, composer & alto saxophonist Ed Palermo and his Big Band decide to stick to straight jazz here on A Lousy Day in Harlem, their brand new album for Sky Cat Records. Instead of Zappa, the focus is on some classics from Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, and Egberto Gismonte, as well as a healthy dose of Palermo originals. It's a thrilling set of big band jazz, played by:
The Cats and Kittens of The Ed Palermo Big Band:
CLIFF LYONS - alto sax, clarinet, soprano sax on “Affinity”
PHIL CHESTER - alto sax, soprano sax, flute, piccolo
BILL STRAUB - tenor sax, clarinet, flute
BEN KONO - tenor sax, flute, oboe
BARBARA CIFELLI - baritone sax, bass clarinet, Eb mutant clarinet
Trumpets:
RONNIE BUTTACAVOLI (lead)
JOHN BAILEY
STEVE JANKOWSKI
Trombones:
CHARLEY GORDON (lead)
MIKE BOSCHEN
MATT INGMAN (bass trombone)
Drums:
RAY MARCHICA
Electric Bass:
PAUL ADAMY
Piano:
BOB QUARANTA
Keyboard:
TED KOOSHIAN
Yep, that's some line-up! Kicking off with "Laurie Frink", a sizzling Palermo original, and you immediately get swept away with some addicting melodies, a wealth of groove, and a plethora of solos, including some soaring sax solos courtesy of Chester & Straub. "Affinity" is less frantic, but chock full of melody & atmosphere, while Ellington's "Brasilliance" bubbles & boils, tricky drum fills flailing away underneath some complex time signatures, wild piano, and blazing horns. The quirky "Like Lee Morgan" is a perfect homage to none other than Morgan himself, the full horn & reed section up front and center, and Coltrane's "Giant Steps" is just magnificent, Straub & Kono delivering some incredible, melodic solos that would have made the master proud. "Gargoyles" is another winner here, screaming sax from Kono and a sizzling trumpet jaunt courtesy Bailey two of the highlights of an otherwise engaging track that is what big band jazz is all about.
From start to finish, A Lousy Day in Harlem is anything but 'lousy', the album full of thrilling performances, stellar covers, and wonderful originals. Ed Palermo and his band have done it again people, do not miss this one!!
Track Listing
1.
Laurie Frink 08:27
2.
Affinity 05:14
3.
Brasilliance 05:36
4.
Sanfona 06:02
5.
Like Lee Morgan 02:32
6.
The One with the Balloon 07:03
7.
Minority 03:38
8.
The Cowboy Song 08:07
9.
Well You Needn't 03:02
10.
Giant Steps 04:04
11.
Next Year 07:33
12.
Gargoyles 07:47
13.
This Won't Take Long 02:21
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