Labor Of Love

LABOR OF LOVE Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra Lenny King, Director Scroll down to read review and liner notes Track List: 1. REUBEN'S BLUES (5:37) Gene Roland (Anthony Brock, bass; Kirk Garrison, trumpet; Frank Catalano, tenor sax) 2. SEND IN THE CLOWNS (4:59) arr. Dave Barduhn (Mike Flack, piano; Kirk Garrison, trumpet) 3. JUST FRIENDS (4:42) arr. John Kornegay (Bryan Murray, tenor sax) 4. MY OLD FLAME (4:44) arr. Marty Paich (Bryan Murray, tenor sax; Ben Clark, trumpet) 5. ALL OF ME (3:07) arr. Lennie Niehaus (Joni King, vocalist) 6. MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE (5:49) arr. Tom Matta (Hary Kozlowski, trombone) 7. TAKE THE 'A' TRAIN (5:03 arr. Don Menza (Mike Flack, piano; Bryan Murray, tenor sax; Chris Sarlas, alto sax; Nate Walcott, trumpet; Michael Fiala, drums) 8. WHEN SUNNY GETS BLUE (4:44) arr. Jerry Nowak (Joni King, vocalist) 9. SAMBA DA YO (4:36)arr. Kirk Garrison (Frank Catalano, tenor sax; Hary Kozlowski, trombone) 10. A LITTLE MINOR BOOZE (4:27) Willie Maiden (Mike Flack, piano; Gary Parker, alto sax; Randy Kulik, trumpet) 11. OUT OF NOWHERE (3:24) arr. Bill Holman (Frank Catalano, tenor sax) 12. MALAGUENA (4:42) arr. Bill Holman (Hary Kozlowski, trombone; Bryan Murray, tenor sax; Frank Catalano, tenor sax) CHICAGO METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA Personnel Roster Leader: Lenny King Vocal Soloist: Joni King Saxes: Chris Sarlas, lead alto; Gary Parker, alto; Bryan Murray, tenor; Frank Catalano, tenor; Ken Kistner, alto/bari; Kent Lawson, bari Trumpets: Kirk Garrison, lead; Nate Walcott; Jim Peterson; Ben Clark; Randy Kulik Trombones: Hary Kozlowski, lead; Mark Corey; Mike Joyce; Steve Larkin; John McAllister, bass & tuba Rhythm: Mike Flack, piano; Anthony Brock, bass; Michael Fiala, drums; Al Keeler, Latin perc; Jerry Steinhilber, Latin Perc. ____________________________________________________________ Package Art Design: Jeff King ____________________________________________________________ Liner Notes: by John Burnett, Jazz Host, WDCB-FM Radio 'A True Labor of Love....' When Lenny King asked me to write liner notes for his second CD, my thoughts went back in time to the first album produced by the CMJO - 'Live and Screamin' '- recorded at FitzGerald's Nightclub in 1997. The original album included big band sounds of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and other famous bandleaders. It had atmosphere, presence and brilliant musicianship. I found myself pondering the precedence the original album had set, and wondering what could possibly come next! Not surprisingly, the answers quickly came to me as I listened to the mix down tape of 'Labor of Love.' First and foremost, the band has matured even further with many of the same key sidemen and a couple new great players including bassist Anthony Brock and Mike Flack on piano. Also, two lovely vocal charts have been added, giving the album additional flavor and attraction. The approach Lenny King has taken in the production of this CD is very worthy of comment. He has combined his musical strengths with imagination. A wide variety of composers and arrangers have been selected to meet the intended diversity of this album, ranging from Stephen Sondheim and Bill Holman, to Chicago's own John Kornegay who wrote the arrangement of 'Just Friends', and Tom Matta's arrangement of 'My One and Only Love'. Add to this the collaboration of three of the band's top players, Catalano, Kozlowski, and Garrison on the composition 'Samba Da Yo' and what do you have - variety at it's' best, without subtracting from the sounds of great big band jazz! The first cut on the album, 'Reuben's Blues' composed and arranged by Gene Roland, sets the mood with a bass intro by Anthony Brock followed by the bone ensemble which is then enhanced by the saxes. Trumpet soloist Kirk Garrison does some nice half-valving and brilliant lead work. Frank Catalano takes an excellent solo, which begins quietly and crescendos to an exciting climax. Lenny King has the talent for picking talent. This is clearly evident when listening to Mike Flack, a former student of Len's, who is clearly a professional pianist with a great fut