Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – XXL
September 28, 2003 in Articles
Gordon Goodwin’s last album, Swingin’ For The Fences was really good. No, not good, excellent. Charts like Count Bubba and Samba Del Gringo was hot. Could he top himself with this release?
Yes. There are some awesome songs his latest album Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – XXL. My favorites so far are The Jazz Police and Hunting Wabbits. Great arrangements and great songs. A Game Of Inches features Michael Brecker, and Thad Said No and Mozart 40th Symphony in Gm feature Eddie Daniels on Clarinet. Good stuff.
Missing from this album however is Dan Higgins. I suppose Eric Marienthal is an ok substitute. Hopefully Dan will be on the next album and help further set the bar high on this band and the music it makes!
10 out of 10 (just for Hunting Wabbits and The Jazz Police).
Loading ...
JimO said on September 29, 2003
Thanks for info on this CD being out, I knew that it was due out soon, I would rather hear Dan Higgins on lead any day over Eric. Eric is a talented player but, I always feel cheated when he plays on a BB jazz session because he doesn’t swing, it’s the r&b super steroided riffs that seem out of context to me but, maybe it’s the purist in me. He does live in LA, I guess.
I will pick up this CD anyway asap.
ericdano said on September 29, 2003
Yeah, I agree. His sound is a little too bright or something. I dunno. And his solos are ok, but I agree……Higgins over Marienthal.
Anonymous Coward said on October 10, 2003
I think both perform with alot of excitement and they each have their own identity. Maybe instead of feeling cheated you should keep an open mind next time you listen to music.
solzano said on October 10, 2003
Good thing nobody listens to the 2nd alto.
Anonymous Coward said on October 10, 2003
And maybe you should die and go to hell!!!!!!
solzano said on October 16, 2003
Is that the way this thread works? People respond in this fashion. What happened to a good and healthy arguement? I too think that both players lend their own musicality. Dan is great and so is Eric.
ericdano said on October 16, 2003
That would be what is called a “TROLL”. It happens.
You know, I listened to the first and the second album (they are on my iPod), and I really think Dan’s sound makes the first CD better. I dunno. It’s hard to explain, but Higgins has that “lead” sound.
Anonymous Coward said on October 29, 2003
I think that Dan and eric are both amazing. However, Dan is arguably the finest lead alto player on the planet. By the way, someone should thank Sal Lozano (the 2nd alto player from both albums) for chiming in. He is “solzano”… and a damn fine lead player himself! Thanks, Sal!
Birdadderley said on November 2, 2003
sal, i must agree with you about both dan and eric are great. Of course they both come from different bags but each are nails when you need them and thats top priority. Except i wish i knew that whole story about gordon/higgins thing. My teacher tried to explain it a long time ago, but I’m not exactly sure. Was it darkness? I couldn’t see folding on Dan’s part? Didn’t Dan ask Eric to cover a gig once or something… and gordon darked out and kept Eric on lead? hmm…. anyways… that anonymous user that said “go to hell” is a f$*$ing fold… I don’t think he knows who you are… at least i hope so because if he did… hopefully natural selection will strike him down with a lightening bolt or a tree will fall on him if we’re lucky… bottom line is he should show his respect to you because you DO know what you’re talking about
JimO said on January 26, 2004
I agree about Dan Higgins as well hopefully, He’ll be back. “Hunting Wabbits” up for grammy isn’t it? as well as the CD?