Superb big band. I bought their double LP which featured the works of Gershwin in 1978. Incredible. Top band by a mile and a major contender against the Buddy Rich Big Band. RIP Rob.
I grew up listening - and loving - Basie, Ellington, Herman, Kenton et al and never thought it could get better ....... and then along come the fabulous Boss Brass. Wow ! Wow! Wow!
This is the best thing on RU-vid. THE. BEST. THING. Greatest big band ever; one of Robs best charts ever. Thanks for posting it. RIP Rob and thanks for all of the fantastic work.
Great to see Sam Noto again. I have the Two Originals CD; great stuff. I love this band forever. They played three nights in Toronto just before Christmas 2008. Sold out months in advance! A great reunion.
This album (Present Perfect) was one of my first introductions to jazz about 27 years ago in high school by my then trumpet teacher. I still love this tune. He introduced me to a weird hodgepodge of jazz: Hot Fives & Sevens, Rob McConnell, Miles Davis, & Lee Morgan.
Also one of my favorite tunes...along with Start with Mrs. Beanhart! Bitching hard charts to play, but worth every bit of the effort. Thanks so much for posting this! Lou Spagnola
AT CONFEDERATION PARK ...JUST BACK FROM EUROPE.... POPED OUT BUT WOW DID THEY PUT ON GREAT BIG BAND ..... I'LL NEVER FORGET IT ..., I WAS WITH DICK MALONEY THAT NIGHT....
I played drums for him in 1984 in Spokance Washington. Very demanding dude, got chewed out once for not getting kick just right on his phrasing. We even did this arrangement.
He apparently had a well-developed prickly side to his personality, which makes it all the more amazing that he was able to keep this band going for close to 35 years. I'm sure the fact that it was mostly very part-time helped all the musicians recover and prepare for another round. And just as Alabama is always grateful for the existence of Mississippi, I imagine Rob was grateful for the existence of Buddy Rich. "You think I'M prickly...wait 'till you do a tour with Buddy!"
Unusual to see the snare drum angle that Terry Clark uses on his kit ( tilted way to the back ), especially for someone playing with traditional grip. Seems like it would be hard to do rim shots that way. Love the way he plays however.
wonderful music. how do you guys do it?! well, maybe how DID you guys do it. Surely one of the high momements of big band jazz. A privilege to be able to hear this music...time and again! thanks to all concerned!
There are many Boss Brass' CD's. Look in Amazon USA and UK and also on ebay. They show up all the time. The cd where this tune is,"PRESENT PERFECT" is now on amazon used for under U$S 30.00. It is also on ebay right now, for $ 5,99 item nr. 4828559868 . Regards.
Looks like Ron Hughes on "bass" trombone although it looks like he's playing on a Conn 88H symphonic tenor istead of an actual bass trombone. I wonder if that is the same horn he used on the albums.
