Swing And All That Jazz

SWING & ALL THAT JAZZ! ... Arranged and conducted by MICHAEL GIBBS After a now 80-year development of big band music one of the most outstanding jazz orchestra composers and arrangers transformed the music of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holyday, Frank Sinatra, Stan Kenton, Tommy Dorsey, Sy Oliver, Neal Hefti and Charles Mingus into a sophisticated and contemporary concert event. For Michael Gibbs, grand seigneur, composer and arranger from England, who worked in the course of his career with the likes of Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Michael Mantler, Mike Stern, Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, Carla Bley, Gary Burton, Laurie Anderson and Peter Gabriel, it is a concern, to present the classic Big Band era with state-oriented jazz orchestras in a new and modern way. The music of the famous big band leaders and musicians in jazz history, the respect attached artifices of masterful arranger Michael Gibbs and a more experimental sound body as the Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra want to convey an impressive sound and listening experience with this recording. We had a good time some years back - both with the public, and amongst ourselves - revisiting the music of Glenn Miller, so decided to expand that experience with a revisiting of other music of the swing period - including the music of the Basie, Ellington, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Harry James, Thad Jones bands and others. And a few pieces just outside that period. Looking back - the big band experience has expanded and developed in vast array of styles since the 30's and 40's - but a nostalgia for the earlier music remains for many - hence this endeavour to relive some of that formative period. It's for the pure fun of it - hope you enjoy it! -Michael Gibbs.