Breaking Some Boundaries

Don’t get me started . . .

I’m putting this band together, making a thousand and one decisions, and I get some “suggestions” from a comrade in Atlanta (you know who you are) about expanding the tune list into areas that are decidedly non-big band.

I’ve been writing for the 4 horn band since 2000, pretty steadily, using Mustang Sally as the central focus and going outward from there. The result is a book of about 350 tunes that cover a lot of territory, from Asleep at the Wheel (Choo Choo Caboogie) to Tower of Power to Elvis to Sinatra to Motown and on and on. This book is based on what we’ve been asked to play over the years, and it seems like it hit the spot for certain folks having weddings.

When I decided to revive the old big band, formerly the New Flamingo Swing Orchestra, I had no intention of expanding the genre list into some of the Original Recipe areas. Gradually, however I realized that with all these horns it just makes sense to take some of the OR charts and, regardless of genre, fold them into the mix for the big band. Lately I’ve done this kind of upgrade for Tell It Like It Is, What Is Hip, Always Look at the Bright Side of Life, even Mustang Sally.

The idea is to have a great dinner set, ballroom dance kind of stuff, then sneak in a few post-big band things as the evening goes on.

On one level it is truly insane to set up an 11-piece band with singers additional in this tanking economy. On the other hand, I keep reminding myself that the Depression of the thirties was the golden age for musicians, because those who could hire them hired lavishly. Here are last month’s additions to the book:

It Ain’t the Meat, It’s the Motion--Benny Carter wrote this chart for Maria Muldaur in the late seventies, and the innocent Miss Marilyn degenerates when she sings it.

I Just Want to Celebrate--Rare Earth!

You’re the Boss--Brian Setzer doing Elvis and Ann-Margaret

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You--Four Seasons, before it was a hotel

Signed, Sealed & Delivered--Recently popularized in some political campaign

The Curley Shuffle--Back in the Saddle Band, surely you must remember

and the holy trinity of Tower of Power tunes:

Down to the Nightclub

You’re Still a Young Man

What Is Hip?

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Now if I were hiring a wedding band, I’d go with the most versatile tune list and hope they can pull it off. (I’ve heard enough rock bands try to swing to Satin Doll to know that this is the direction we have to go rather than the other way.)

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In other news, we are recording in Los Angeles. Best cats for sightreading, best studio rates, and an opportunity to record with some of the cats who did the demo recording at KingSound Studios back in 1981. Still active are Tom Scott (who was not on the demo but played most of the gigs afterward on lead trumpet), Steve Johnson on trombone, Charlie Oreña on baritone. My brother Jimmy on drums, who was in the Navy back then I think, who will play a kit supplied by the great Jimmy Ford. Going to nail down some dates when Steve gets back from Bay Area gigs next Monday.