I bought this album in high school way back in the day. The bands hard driving style was clearly done with the effort of Mel lewis my favorite Big band drummer!!
I was at the height of my big band writing when, after 20 years, I moved away from it to follow my piano career. The reason?...I was so totally into Thad that I started to sound like him and I lost my identity. Since then, I've noticed that countless other writers sound like Thad too. Like Iccharus, they flew too close to the sun and it melted their wings.
It is an incredible honor to be able to have you share this remarkable video, and your memories, with us. One of my favorite bands - and composers - of all time. It is interesting how every incarnation of this band has it's own special touch - like hearing what Harold Danko would do after having hear Sir Roland Hanna's take for example. Every Thad/Mel/Vanguard orchestra from the late 60s throughout the decades equally great. It is impossible for me to rank them. And the band they have today (under John Mosca's leadership) carries on in this tradition with excellence and consistency. When I hear Frank Basile i hear a lot of Pepper Adams etc.
My pleasure to share. Wish I had more from back in the day.... You're very perceptive. A big part of the reason for the diverse sound of the band's incarnations all through the years, was because each individual part that Thad wrote, meant something. And that something was different for each player who played the same part..... :)
Love to read what you say here about Thad's writing. Yes I still have the original pressing of that LIVE IN MUNCH with Jerry Dodgion's soprano solo on CENTRAL PARK NORTH transcribed on the fold out inside cover!
If you can find it there was a great quartet set that was released: just Thad, Mel Lewis, Rufus Reid and Harold Danko recorded at the Airliner in the 70s. It is a must if you want to hear Thad stretch out.
