Jazz / Big Band; Swing
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, an 18-piece jazz ensemble, celebrates and personifies the best of the big band tradition with a very contemporary and original sound. Through the writing genius of Gordon Goodwin, SRO audiences have enjoyed one of the most craftsman-like hard swinging large jazz ensembles comprised of L.A.'s finest musicians. Gordon's witty and insightful arrangements propel the listener on a journey through a myriad of styles: latin, blues, swing, classical, hard-hitting jazz, and even an homage to Looney Tunes (!).
The latest disc from Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band "The Phat Pack" showcases more of the hot licks that fans have come to know and love. In addition to the playful jazz of such tracks as "Whodunnit?" and "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes", the Big Phat Band teams up with guest vocalist Dianne Reeves, BONUS DVD FEATURES: - Complete Album in 5.1 surround sound - New Concert videos and recording session videos - Big Phat Band Solo Transcriptions - Make your own mix of a Big Phat Band Track - The Big Phat Band Trivia Game featuring a BONUS track - Big Phat Band Photo Gallery - Bios of each member of the Big Phat Band - Audio Commentary by Gordon Goodwin - Video Liner Notes
Disc 1: CD
Disc 2: DVD
Gordon Goodwin - Piano, Sax (Tenor)
Eric Marienthal - Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
Andy Martin - Trombone
Charlie Morillas - Trombone
Carl Verheyen - Guitar
Craig Ware - Trombone
Brian Scanlon - Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Wayne Bergeron - Trumpet
Dan Savant - Trumpet
Jay Mason - Clarinet (Bass, Baritone)
Craig Gosnell - Trombone
Brad Dutz - Percussion
Ray Brinker - Drums
Luis Conte - Percussion
Bernie Dresel - Drums
Jeff Driskill - Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Dan Fornero - Trumpet
Grant Geissman - Guitar
Alexander Iles - Trombone
Sal Lozano - Flute, Piccolo, Sax (Alto)
Gordon Goodwin
Active Decades: '80s, '90s and '00s
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Big Band, Christmas, Swing, Soundtracks, Holiday
Saxophonist, keyboardist, and bandleader Gordon Goodwin appeared on albums by Louie Bellson and Gil Scott-Heron in the late '70s prior to the release of his debut solo album, Close to the Edge, on Nova in 1983. He continued to work primarily as a sideman, as well as increasingly as an arranger and orchestrator during the rest of the '80s, the '90s, and the early 2000s, with appearances on albums by the Tom Kubis Big Band, Grant Geissman, Perri, Miles Osland, Michael Crawford, Mark MancinaTrevor Rabin, Dennis Bono, Simone, and Dan SavantMike Watts, also serving as conductor on such soundtrack albums as Armageddon, Enemy of the State, and Gone in 60 Seconds. In 2000, he organized Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, an 18-piece big band, to record Swingin' for the Fences, released by Immergent Records. His primary income may have come from his arrangements, orchestrations, conducting, and occasional playing on soundtracks (including The Majestic, The One, and Spy Kids 2), but his heart was with his Big Phat Band, which followed up Swingin' for the Fences on September 23, 2003, with XXL, an eclectic effort bringing in rock and pop influences as well as humor and featuring as guest stars Take 6 and Johnny Mathis.
Goodwin won a Grammy Award for his instrumental arrangement of the track "Incredits" on the soundtrack of the 2004 film The Incredibles; the same year, he served as an orchestrator on the film National Treasure. The third album by the Big Phat Band, The Phat Pack, was released on June 13, 2006. Guests included Dianne Reeves and David Sanborn, and the album reached the Billboard jazz chart, selling more than 15,000 copies in its first two years of release, a substantial amount for a big-band jazz record. Later in the year, Goodwin combined his two major musical activities when the Big Phat Band performed the musical score for the animated holiday film Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas, also released on a soundtrack album. In 2007, Goodwin wrote the music for Dogs, the Musical and conducted the score for the film Snakes on a Plane. He also served as orchestrator and conductor on the 2008 film Get Smart. The fourth Big Phat Band album, Act Your Age, appeared on September 1, 2008, featuring guest stars including Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, Patti Austin, Nathan East, and Lee Ritenour (who produced the disc).
---William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide |
