THE BRIAN PASTOR BIG BAND: Common Men

The Brian Pastor Big Band

Common Men

© 2006 BPO Music (837101193009)

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THE BRIAN PASTOR BIG BAND ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF COMMON MEN

PHILADELPHIA – June 1, 2006 - The Brian Pastor Big Band is proud to announce the release of their new CD, Common Men. This long-awaited recording contains seven original compositions by Pastor and other members of the band as well as seven fresh arrangements of jazz standards that spotlight exciting soloists and a crisp swinging ensemble. The CD is currently available at www.brianpastorbigband.com.

Highly regarded bandleader/trombonist Brian Pastor formed this big band to give seventeen of Philadelphia’s finest musicians an opportunity to play the music they love. The Brian Pastor Big Band has featured outstanding local soloists, composers and arrangers since 1994. The band has been showcased at numerous area jazz venues and boasts a loyal following of jazz lovers from the Tri-State area.


Here is what people are saying about the CD:

...one of the finest bands in existence today. The arrangements are wonderful, the ensemble is tight and the solos are of the highest quality...a unique and exciting band!
Grammy Award Winner / Pianist / Conductor, Peter Nero, Music Director & Conductor
Peter Nero and the Philly Pops

...A beautifully orchestrated and engineered gem...explores fresh new trails...explodes in riveting solo content...
Trombonist Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg
( of Late Night with Conan O'Brien )

...fantastic...a spectacular display of playing, wonderful choice of pieces, fun and exhilarating music that will make you smile...This CD is a must for every big band fan.
Nitzan Haroz, Principal Trombone, The Philadelphia Orchestra

...if you love the sound and energy of a live kickin' big band, then you will love this CD. Lots of fun, diverse arrangements, and the intensity that only a real big band can deliver... It doesn't get any more "live" than this!
Brian Bromberg, Bassist / Recording Artist / Producer

...Totally OUT OF SIGHT...great soloists...excellent group...all the musicianship, excitement and force of a large band with the flexibility of a small group...they cook!
Norman W.E. Satchell, Saxaphonist / Radio Host WNJC 1360 AM

For more information on The Brian Pastor Big Band, visit www.brianpastorbigband.com

reviews

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  • Excellent CD
    author: Doug Mann

    A splendid collection of performances,I enjoyed the diversity of material.More please!

  • Very hot cd.
    author: Ron Wasielewski

    Starts out smokin and keeps on going through all the cuts. Fanfare for the Commmon Man is an inspiring version of my favorite Copeland composition. As soon as I heard it on Mark Channon's Thursday morning jazz show on WWUH out of the University of Hartford, I knew I had to get it and quick. Exactly the Big Band Sound I love!

  • Another Hidden Treasure
    author: Bruce Greenwald

    Hidden away in the Northeastern capital of jazz, Philadelphia, PA, Brian Pastor has collected many of the finest local jazz musicians and arrangers and laid down a representative sampling of the exciting music that is heard twice a month in the back room of a local restaurant. The only thing missing is the thunderous applause from the die-hard big band jazz fans that crowd the tables. The Brian Pastor Big Band CD really swings, with original arrangements by the band members, tight sectional work, and top flight soloists. Kudos to Brian and the gang!

  • Excellent Jazz CD
    author: Craig D. Rosenberg

    I've been listening to Jazz most of my life.The Common Men CD is like hearing a long time successful band.Keep it up!

  • Deservedly top marks from me to all involved.
    author: Terry Ward

    Have already been in touch with Brian Pastor and told him I think this CD is great; certainly even better than I had expected from other reviews and short clips I had heard previously. I heartily recommend it to those of my friends here in the UK who go for big band music.Can't wait for your next one Brian!

  • Brian Pastor Big Band CD reviewed on allaboutjazz.com
    author: Michael Purdy

    This review quoted from the web site www.allaboutjazz.com and written by reviewer Jack Bowers >>>>> Common Men The Brian Pastor Big Band | BPO Music (2006) By Jack Bowers Yes, I’ll admit I’m growing old (the senior discount is now a given), but never too old, I hope, to appreciate a big band that’s clearly bursting with energy and enthusiasm and swings like every note may be its last. By the way, that’s a thumbnail sketch of trombonist Brian Pastor’s Philadelphia-based ensemble and Common Men, a dynamic and unequivocally dazzling debut that has left me grinning from ear to ear. Any session that opens with a pulse-quickening arrangement of a Cole Porter classic is definitely “All Right with Me.” As it turns out, that’s only the prelude to a succession of superlative charts by Pastor, Kaj Hansen, Chuck Gottesman, Jeff Darrohn, Paul Morris and tenor saxophonist Andrew Neu, who not only revised the Porter standard but cooked up a mouth-watering “Midnight Buffet” and constructed a sturdy “Seven Mile Bridge.” Besides playing marvelous trombone, Pastor wrote the groovy “T.S.C. Blues or a Night at the Rat” and amorous “Ballad for Ben” (featuring Gottesman’s flugelhorn) and cleverly arranged Max Bennett’s funky “L.A. Expression,” the Gershwin brothers’ “A Foggy Day,” Jule Styne’s “Make Someone Happy,” the fast-moving “Son of Feelings” (another of the album’s many highlights) and Aaron Copland’s monumental “Fanfare for the Common Man” (from which the album‘s title is derived). High marks too for spelling Copland’s name right. Rounding out the engaging program are Darrohn’s breezy “Little Henry,” saxophonist Hansen’s glistening “Isle of the Pale Eye,” Gottesman’s riveting “Hard Luck Story” (based on “Bye Bye Blackbird”) and trombonist Morris’s lustrous arrangement of “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” on which Pastor is the lone soloist (as he is on “Feelings”). There’s one vocal, by Grant Garfuss on “Make Someone Happy,” which is followed by Pastor’s leisurely a cappella salute to the dispossessed “Bill Bailey” and a final “I love you, dad,“ which closes the album. Having mentioned Pastor and Gottesman, it should be noted that the other soloists are equally sharp and impressive. They include alto/flutist Hansen, trumpeter Rick Gazda, brothers Andrew (tenor sax) and Peter Neu (trumpet), pianist David Kenney, tenor Ed Etkins, bassist Rob Cochran and drummer Tony Vigilante. If the purpose is to swing, it’s almost impossible to do otherwise with Vigilante steering the craft and dropping the bombs, a service he also performs for Philly’s Al/Craig Raymond Big Band. If Vigilante is not the most talented big-band drummer on the scene today, he’s at least a finalist for that honor. Don’t let the name mislead you; these are by no means “common men,” nor is this your run-of-the-mill big-band album. It’s a humdinger, and the real surprise would be if it didn't appear on many reviewers’ year-end top ten lists. Visit The Brian Pastor Big Band on the web. Track listing: It’s All Right with Me; T.S.C. Blues or a Night at the Rat; Fanfare for the Common Man; You Don’t Know What Love Is; Little Henry; L.A. Expression; Ballad for Ben; Midnight Buffet; Son of Feelings; A Foggy Day; Isle of the Pale Eye; My Hard Luck Story; Seven Mile Bridge; Make Someone Happy (71:04). Personnel: Brian Pastor: leader, trombone; Rick Gazda, Tony Bonsera, Chuck Gottesman, Kevin Rodgers, Peter Neu: trumpet; Kaj Hansen, Bob Apgar: alto sax, flute; Andrew Neu: tenor sax, flute; Ed Etkins: tenor sax, flute, alto flute; Alan Kirschner: baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute; Jay Shanman, Glenn Dodson, Paul Morris: trombone; Mike Purdy: bass trombone; Dave Kenney: piano; Greg Kettinger: guitar; Rob Cochran: bass; Tony Vigilante: drums; Grant Garfuss: vocal >>>>

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