Ian Charleton Big Band A Fresh Perspective

Ian Charleton Big Band
A Fresh Perspective
Self-produced

Ian Charleton grew up around Carbondale, Illinois, and began playings saxophone when in 5th Grade. He joined a jazz band as a freshman in college and later attended North Texas State University, where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the jazz studio program. He then joined the Navy to play in a military band and has been head of academics at the Naval School of Music, running a staff of instructors and teaching arranging.

For "A Fresh Perspective," he selected a number of musicians from Southeastern Virginia are: Leader/Arranger: Ian Charleton, Saxophones: Richard Garcia: Alto/Soprano Sax (Lead), Jason Hammers: Alto Sax, Keith Philbrick: Tenor Sax, Michael Ferrante: Tenor Sax, David Fatek: Baritone Sax, Trumpet and Flugelhorn Mark Oates (Lead), Pete Sutorius, Mark Nixon, Kerry Moffit, Trombones John Lloyd (Lead), Lisa Drefke, Carl Lundgren, Dandrick Glenn (Bass), Emily Charleton (Vocals), Bart Kuebler (Piano), Wes Wagner (Guitar), Ryan Persaud (Bass), and Bob Habib (Drums). He had lengthy associations with Bart Kuebler, Kerry Moffit, and Keith Philbrick, while others like John Lloyd and Richard Garcia are more recent musical friends. The program of ten songs includes four originals along with six arrangements of standards.

Charleton's big band is what might be labeled a mainstream big band with a swinging rhythm section as well as melodious horns. One might think of the modern Basie Band mixed with touches of Thad Jones, Quincy Jones, Clark Terry, and others. The Basie touch is evident on the opening "1 West 67th Street," with Kuebler's piano leading the rhythm section for the beginning before the horns enter with trombonist Lloyd taking a solo, exhibiting a fluid and warmth. There is a subtle cool lyricism for the relaxed "Sunday Morning. " This selection showcases pianist Kuebler, Kerry Moffit on flugelhorn, and bassist Persaud. Moffit's solo is particularly gorgeous, and the subtle ensembles frame the solos wonderfully. The title track is a more modern composition in 6/4 with a lilting rhythmic feel. After Richard Garcia's serpentine, snake-charmer tone, soprano sax solo, Moffit follows with another lyrical Flugelhorn solo before drummer Habib solos dynamically.

Charleton's wife Emily wryly delivers the humorous lyrics of Rogers & Hart's "Everything I Got Belongs To You" set against a Basie-like backing with punchy horns. Emily Charleton also is heard on a jazz waltz rendition of "Blue Skies," which is taken at a lazy tempo. On his relaxed swinging solo, Philbrick displays a full-bodied sound on the tenor sax. Charleton's arrangement of "Stardust" helps frame Kerry Moffit's enchanting, lyrical flugelhorn solo. There is Latin fire for the performance of Stefan Karlsson's "El Otono." Moffit adds smoldering heat on trumpet while Garcia is torrid on alto sax. Then there is a novelty in the slowed-down "Tea For Two," with pianist Kuebler lending this performance a pensive feel, while Moffit's muted trumpet hints at the great Harry 'Sweets' Edison. Usually sung as a ballad, "When Sonny Gets Blue" is revamped with a hot Latin arrangement with Lloyd's fiery trombone from Lloyd and Philbrick's searing tenor sax.

Closing this album is a mid-tempo original, "Party on Park" with guitarist Wagner, and the rambunctious baritone saxophonist David Fatek, in addition to those from pianist Kuebler and bassist Persaud. It caps a top-flight straight-ahead big band album that should have feet tapping and fingers snapping.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is an interview with Ian Charleton.