Conversations by University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One

UNI Jazz Band One
Conversations

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to the Northern Iowa Student Government for its continued support. Thanks to Edgar East, fellow salsero and former member of UNI Jazz Band One. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Capps.

Recorded by Tom Tatman and John Chamberlain at Catamount Studios, Cedar Falls, IA, April 13-14, 1997.
Mixed by Bob Washut and Tom Tatman.

"The title for the present recording occurred to me upon listening to the tape of the completed mix: a genuine conversational character seemed clearly evident in many of the improvised solos and, more subtly, in the structure of some of the compositions and arrangements. This is certainly the case with the opener, Thad Jones' LITTLE PIXIE, an ensemble tour de force, where the brass and sax sections exchange commentary from the get-go. The string of solos that ensues exhibits a colloquial quality as well in that each soloist tends to pick up where the previous one leaves off. This characteristic is also exhibited to a lesser degree in the solo sections of other tunes. Bill Peterson's understated arrangement of Miles Davis' NARDIS pits the piano soloist (the ubiquitous Sid Bos in this case) against the band, culminating in a series of heated exchanges. A spirited debate among the members of the saxophone section highlights Sonny Rollins' TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, a tuneful calypso. Pianist Sid Bos and guitarist Mike Cramer also engage in some friendly dialogue here and are followed by call-and-response interlocution between the percussionists (Jason Hastie and guest Ed East) and the band. OF COURAGE AND SPIRIT, dedicated to the memory of former band mate Tom Capps, is a soliloquy for alto saxophonist Josh Souder. He poignantly delivers a soulful sermon. And speaking of church, Charles Mingus' MOANIN' elicits great spirit from members of the congregation, both individually and collectively, including passionate testimonies from alto saxophonist Eric Allen, trombonist Mark Anderson, bassist David Altemeier, as well as some fervent discourse between saxophonists Trevor Jorgensen and Jeff Schafer. LOW LIFE, a Johnny Mandel composition for the Count Basie Band, features a classic tenor debate between Dustin Bear and Jorgensen. Rounding out the program: saxophonist Eric Allen’s arrangement of MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE, which exhibits a Minzerian tinge; BYE-YA, Thelonious Monk's most overtly Latin tune, cast in a Mozambique groove by congero Jerry Gonzalez; SILENCE, by Charlie Haden, a hauntingly beautiful tone poem; Thad Jones' medium swinger MEAN WHAT YOU SAY; and TOBY, a spirited classic originally recorded by Benny Moten's Kansas City Orchestra back in 1932. This recording contains much diversity, both stylistically and emotionally, and documents the 1996-1997 edition of UNI Jazz Band One. We hope you enjoy some of the conversation included herein."

Robert Washut