The 14 Jazz Orchestra - Cartoon Bebop

The 14 Jazz Orchestra - Cartoon Bebop - Dabon Music LLC

Here is the latest release from the South Florida Big Band under the leadership of composer/arranger Dan Bonsanti. About this 13 piece band's prior release, "The Future Ain't What it Used To Be," I wrote that it was "effervescent, contemporary big band recording with a nice selection of songs and strong musicianship." Bonsanti contributed two compositions, the title track and "A Day Tripper's Blues Buffet," which combined motifs from the Beatles number with a blues. Other pieces come from Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and others. 

The personnel included folks recording out of their home studio in part because of the pandemic. He engaged folks from around the country, including trumpet players Bretty Murphey in Wisconsin and Jason Carder in Arizona, and trombonist Dana Teboe in Maine. Bonsanti also engaged drummer Peter Erskine in Los Angeles, and woodwinds players Ed Maina in Tennessee and Tom Tinko in New Jersey. Guitarists Lindsey Blair and Randy Bernsen, drummers Lee Levin, Jack Ciano and Mike Harvey, woodwinds players Ed Calle, Peter Brewer, and Neal Bonsanti (Bonsanti's brother), bassists Nicky Orta, Tim Smith, Jamie Ousley, and Matt Bonelli, pianists Mike Levine and Kemuel Roig, and percussionist Richard Bravo all recorded from different locations around Florida. Bonsanti credits his engineer, Mike Levine, for the superb job stitching together the various parts into a seamless whole.

Bonsanti's handsome arrangements add to the flavor of this recording. The title track starts the fun and is based on music from the old Rocky and His Friends cartoon with some motifs from Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk added. It has an attractive arrangement, a robust tenor sax solo from Ed Calle, Jason Carder's searing bop trumpet, and Ed Maina's fiery alto solo supported with fresh horn riffs. Also of note is Bonsanti's treatment Brazilian flavor of Moreira's "Misturada." There is sparkling piano from Kemuel Roig and Lee Levin's crisp drumming. Stanley Clarke's "Dayride" provides big band fusion funk with Lindsey Blair standing out on guitar and Calle taking it to the alley in tenor sax.

There are a couple of Chick Corea tunes heard here. "Got a Match?" is taken at a feverish tempo with searing Calle tenor sax and Ed Maina's effervescent piccolo. "Duende" is a lovely ballad with Neil Bonsanti (Dan's brother) on oboe. Herbie Hancock's "Driftin'" is a straight-ahead relaxed swinger with Maina tearing into a bluesy solo while Jason Carder's mute trumpet evokes Sweets Edison. Then there is Leslie Bricusse's lovely ballad, "When I Look Into Your Eyes," that was written for the movie "Dr. Doolittle." It has been recorded by Jack Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Wilson, and Tony Bennett. It is a showcase for Calle's warm tenor sax set against a beautiful setting. There is also a striking rendition of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes," with Randy Bernsen's enticing guitar and Mike Levine's spare, well-crafted piano solo.

The album closes with "A Day Tripper's Blues Buffet," which comes off like a mash-up of the Beatles' classic, "Night Train," and "Blues in the Night." This spirited performance features Ed Calle's rousing tenor sax and Lindsey Blair's blues-rock guitar. It caps another excellent big band recording from The 14 Jazz Orchestra.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a pre-pandemic performance of The 14 Jazz Orchestra.

The 14 Jazz Orchestra Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy

The 14 Jazz Orchestra is comprised of 13 of South Florida’s premier Jazz and studio musicians. Under the direction of Dan Bonsanti takes a Contemporary Jazz approach to a wide assortment of styles, performing compositions from Jazz composers such as Billy Strayhorn, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, John Scofield, and Wayne Shorter and pop/rock artists such as Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Certainly not tied to nostalgia, the band has been delighting audiences since its first public performance in 2013 with its contemporary approach that is adventurous yet lyrical and highly rhythmic. Featuring the saxophone of Ed Calle, the debut album "Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy" (Dabon Music, LLC)..

The members are alumni of the University of Miami: Ed Maina, Ed Calle, Neal Bonsanti and Peter Brewer on reeds; trumpeters Stephen Reid, Cisco Dimas and Ray Chicalo; Dante Luciani and Major Bailey on trombones; and a rhythm section of Jim Gasior on keyboards, guitarist Tom Lippincott, with Matt Bonelli and Jack Ciano on bass and drums. A trio of special guests bring their formidable talents to the album – bassists Will Lee and Mark Egan on one track each, and drummer Marko Marcinko on three. This ensemble brings a contemporary and fresh approach to jazz classics, popular hits gospel and fusion works connected with figures as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Weather Report, Chick Corea, the Beatles and Ray Charles.

Bonsanti arranged ten of the eleven performances, the sole exception being Clare Fischer's arrangement of Billy Strayhorn's "U.M.M.G." that he re-orchestrated and opens the recording. After a swinging performance with Dante Luciano standing out on trombone, The 14 Jazz Orchestra turns its attention to a big band treatment of Wayne Shorter's "Palladium," with Calle on tenor and Jim Gasior on electronic keyboards prominent. Jaco Pastorious' "John and Mary," dedicated to his two children mixes a delicate ballad like sensibility with a island-like flavor with Calle serpentine soprano showcased.

Bonsanti's arrangement of "Donna Lee (In Disguise)" is an imaginative reworking of this Charlie Parker classic whose tone is set from Gasior's Tyner-esque piano and sports driving tenor sax from Calle while guest Marcinko pushes the groove on drums. Luciano's growling trombone opens a slow blues drag rendition of Percy Mayfield's hit for Ray Charles "Hit The Road Jack," with trumpeter Cisco Dimas making effectively use of his mute in a manner that Bubba Miley or Cootie Williams would approve. The trumpet of Ray Chicalo and the baritone sax of Peter Brewer are at the forefront of a stately version of Thomas Dorsey's gospel classic "Take My Hand Precious Lord," while "With a Little Help From My Friends" is a pretty straight big band rendition of the Beatles' tune with Will Lee on bass and some very attractive tenor from Calle.

Other performances reimagine Chick Corea and a John Scofield tune that was part of Miles Davis' repertoire and exhibit the same range of musical adventure, lyricism and rhythmic drive that make "Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy," such a stimulating big band listening experience.

I received my review copy from a publicist.  Here is a very brief taste of The 14 Jazz Orchestra.