The Big Head, by Ballin' the Jack

The Big Head

by Ballin' the Jack

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1.	Jubilee Stomp 03:54	info	buy track
2.	Dick's Holler 07:07	info	buy track
3.	Seven Come Eleven 01:23	info	buy track
4.	Tapped Out 07:34	info	buy track
5.	L'Espirit Django 02:10	info	buy track
6.	The Big Head 04:04	info	buy track
7.	Fugueaditty 04:04	info	buy track
8.	Noche Loisada 04:40	info	buy track
9.	Daydream 02:28	info	buy track
10.	Smokefish 02:17	info	buy track
11.	Moonlight Serenede 03:12	info	buy track
12.	Jug (Dexter Digs In) 05:15	info	buy track
13.	Creole Love Call 05:08	info	buy track
14.	Betaville 06:51	info	buy track
15.	Mood Indigo, Pt. 2 02:56	info	buy track
16.	I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 01:22	info	buy track

about

"Ballin' the Jack's second release, The Big Head, jitterbugs its way right out of the starting gate with a rendering of Duke Ellington's "Jubilee Stomp." This time around sees the contemporary jazz septet interpreting swing and blues classics by such legends as Benny Goodman, Jelly Roll Morton, and Tommy Dorsey, among others, and paying tribute to the beginning of bebop or, as some call the genre, the root of rock & roll. Ballin' the Jack also flex their muscles in the area of originals, of which there are five on this disc. Of note is the bluesy "L'Esprit Django," written by guitarist Ben Sher, whose performance here is best described as smooth, smooth, smooth. The Big Head features guest artist and Ellington "specialist" Anthony Coleman on the Hammond B3 organ. You hear the musician in fine form on Leadbelly's down-home blues joint "Dick's Holler," where Coleman plays a soulful, stomp-your-foot extended solo. Coleman also takes a nice back-up turn on Ellington's "Fugueaditty," the seldom-heard fugue number. The best number on this collection comes by way of a raw and streetwise rendition of Ellington's "Creole Love Call," which features Frank London performing a gritty and steamy mute solo originally played by Bubber Miley. Listeners already familiar with Ballin' the Jack should not expect to hear much of the raucous, in-your-face, frenetic jazz numbers that the group has become known for. The Big Head focuses more on slow jams and smoldering blues numbers, which are executed with grace, skill, and creativity. Credit must be given to musicians who are able to revive classics and inject a contemporary flavor into them -- as evidenced on the ensemble's version of "Moonlight Serenade," which, incidentally, incorporates original music by Glen Miller from a '40s radio broadcast. That said, this is one of the things that Ballin' the Jack do best -- they seamlessly marry the old with the new, and kiss it with their own unique imprint. What a thoughtful and skilled recording this is -- their forebears would be proud." - Liana Jonas (Allmusic)

credits

released February 13, 2001

Matt Darriau - Alto & Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Andy Laster - Baritone Sax & Clarinet
Curtis Hasselbring - Trombone & Mutes
Frank London - Trumpet & Mutes
Ben Sher - Guitars
George Schuller - Drums & Bells
Joe Fitzgerald - Bass

Special Guest:
Anthony Coleman - Organ

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about

Matt Darriau Music New York, New York

Composer, bandleader, and multi-reedist Matt Darriau gives traditional folk material a contemporary improvisational spin, writing new tunes that mix old-world and modern influences, and displaying masterful soloing chops not only on an array of saxophones and clarinets, but also pennywhistle, slide whistle, Irish flute, kaval (a Balkan flute), and gaida (a Bulgarian bagpipe). ... more

discography

Matt Darriau Paradox Trio with Bojan Z

Mar 2019
Liquid Clarinets

Apr 2009
Gambit

Apr 2005
Flying At A Slant

Apr 2005
Source

Mar 2005
Paradox Trio

Mar 2005
The Big Head

Feb 2001
Jungle

Jan 2001
Spin

Mar 2000
Battleship Potemkin

Feb 2000
Desastro Totale

Jan 2000
Anatevka

Sep 1999

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