David Murray Big Band

Conducted by Lawrence "Butch" Morris

DIW/Columbia, 1991

Like the two excellent volumes of the Murray Big Band live at Sweet Basil's, this is music that acknowledges and extends jazz tradition. The first tune, "Paul Gonsalves", is based on Gonsalves' famous sax solo at Newport (preserved on the "Ellington at Newport" album). The next two are also tributes by tenorman Murray to tenor sax giants, "Lester" (Young) and "Ben" (Webster). Conductor Morris and trombonist Craig Harris each contribute a tune as well, and Harris raps (!) on the closing "Let the Music Take You". Ellington and his band, virtually by themselves kept big band music vital into the '60s, and Murray is continuing to keep it alive and thriving.

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