One O’Clock Lab Band North Texas milestone jazz One O’Clock Lab Band – Lab 2017

One O’Clock Lab Band North Texas milestone jazz One O’Clock Lab Band – LAB 2017:  There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that this album will snag one of the awards it was submitted to the Grammy awards for… North Texas students, teachers and composers all join forces to give you some of the most joyful jazz you’ll ever hear!  Their lively and vivacious take on the opener, Harold Arlen’s “My Shining Hour“, is one of the best examples of collective creativity I’ve heard (yet) in 2017… let me put it this way – the players ALL shine!

Band director Alan Baylock certainly knows how to keep listeners enthused, and wanting more… & don’t just “take my word for it”; scope out tunes like “Roundabout” (an original by Rich DeRosa, faculty member at North Texas)… a highly impressive & sensitive jazz composition that you’ll find your ears drawn back to time & again – I just loved this piece!  If you have a student who is inclined towards jazz – this would be a PERFECT gift for the holidays.

You get well over an hour of jazz infused with the spirit of life on this fine release… the most impressive performance, & my personal favorite on the album is their 6:36 rendition of Duke Ellington’s “I’m Beginning To See The Light“… I must admit, of course, that since I’m a (sometime) keyboard player myself, I was thrilled to hear the great organ on the tune!  I give all the players, arrangers & teachers a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this excellent (& timeless) album.  Get more information at the UNT page for the release.        Rotcod Zzaj

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Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Dick Metcalf (aka Rotcod Zzaj) is a globe-hopping musician and poet who spent many years roving the world until he finally settled in his current abode, Lacey, Washington... just down the road from Seattle. He started IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION magazine in 1990 (still being published), and Contemporary Fusion Reviews magazine in 2016. He also was a keyboard player & singer for many years... you can hear (and download for free) many of those works at his "Internet Archive Collection". If you'd like to support our efforts and get something in return, there are also a few of these albums for sale on the Rotcod Zzaj BandCamp site"

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