Andy Farber and His Orchestra
With Special Guests Jon Hendricks & Jerry Dodgian
This Could Be The Start Of Something Big
Black Warner Records
www.andyfarber.com
By George W. Harris

While catching the Count Basie Orchestra at the Bowl last summer, I couldn’t help but thing to myself, “this band is so good, yet they’re stuck in the past; why don’t they try some new material?” Well, leader/composer/saxist Andy Farber must have been at the same concert with the same thought, as this terrific disc has a swinging Basie feel with a hot rhythm section, but also includes some snazzy new tunes and freshly baked charts on some standards. Farber’s own “Bombers” and ”Space Suit” sound like out takes from The Atomic Mr. Basie, while an ingenious take of Brooks’ “High Anxiety” is a hoot. Monk’s “52nd Street Theme” sizzles like a steak, while Jon Hendricks hops through “Roll ‘Em, Pete” and the title track. Gotta see this band in concert. YAY!