The Art of the Chart from Louis Bellson's Big Band Explosion! is a CD dedicated to composers / arrangers. Beautiful compositions / arrangements can be heard from: Bellson himself, Tommy Newsom, Bob Florence, Thad Jones, Bill Holman, Jack Hayes and Ernie Wilkins. In short: all big names in the world of big band jazz. And how that Louis Bellson can still play the drums like crazy and what an excellent
… lead he gives to his big band! This 74-year-old jazz legend, best known for being a member of Duke Ellington's big band, still swings great. Bellson wrote nine of a total of twelve tracks on this CD in collaboration with others. He wrote the fast swinging Berne, Baby, Berne! together with Remo Palmier, he wrote Quiet Riot with Bill Holman and Jack Hayes and he composed the beautiful ballad Summer Love with Buddy Baker. This big band jazz sounds really explosive, with top jazz musicians such as trumpet player Conte Candoli (Conte), tenor saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Rickey Woodard, baritone saxophonist Jack Nimitz, trombonist George Bohanon and pianist Mike Lang. (JW)more
