This big band of Chicago professionals have marvelously recorded some of the most famous jazz classics, including the charts of Bill Holman, Sammy Nestico, Lennie Niehaus, Frank Mantooth, and others.

14 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Big Band, JAZZ: Swing/Big Band

Show all album songs: Live and Screamin' Songs


Details:
LIVE AND SCREAMIN'

Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Dennis Noday, guest trumpet soloist

Lenny King, Director

1. Magic Flea (3:32) Sammy Nestico
2. A Time For Love (3:22) arr. Hank Levy
3. What's New? (5:50) arr. Bill Holman
4. Maria (3:17) arr. Don Sebesky
5. I Remember Stan (6:19) Lennie Niehaus
6. Fitz (3:31) Gene Roland
7. Yesterdays (5:13) arr. Bill Holman
8. El Congo Valiente (5:02) Johnny Richards
9. Blue (4:33) arr. Gordon Brisker
10. Greasy Sack Blues (5:11) Don Rader
11. But Beautiful (4:49)arr. Lennie Niehaus
12. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (5:46) arr. Frank Mantooth
13. Here's That Rainy Day (3:16) arr. Dee Barton
14. MacArthur Park (8:35) arr. Adrian Drover

Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
Personnel Roster

Leader: Lenny King
Guest Soloist: Dennis Noday, trumpet

Saxes: **Chris Sarlas, lead alto; *Jon Irabagon, lead alto; Kent Lawson, alto & bari; Mark Colby, tenor; Frank Catalano, tenor; Ken Kistner, bari

Trumpets: **Joey Tartell, lead; *Kirk Garrison, lead; Terry Connell; Jim Peterson; **Tom Baker; *Amir Elsaffar; *Randy Kulik

Trombones: John Mose, lead; Hary Kozlowski; Tim Coffman; Tom Stark; John McAllister, bass & tuba

Rhythm: **Don Stille, piano; *Ron Mills, piano; David Rothstein, bass; **Charlie Braugham, drums; *Bob Chmel, drums; Al Keeler, Latin perc

* Tracks 8 and 13 only
** Not on tracks 8 and 13

Frank Catalano appears courtesy of Delmark Records
Kirk Garrison is a Yamaha performing artist.


Read the Liner Notes by John Burnett, WDCB-FM Jazz Radio:

Under the Direction of Lenny King, the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra has achieved the distinction of producing a Kenton sound that equals the original. They specialize in performing the works of Stan Kenton and they also play the charts of Herman, Basie and others brilliantly.

There are several 'Big Bands' in the Chicago area and the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is the most recent. They have wasted no time in catching up with their peers and their popularity is underwritten by growing attendance levels at live performances and the enthusiasm shown by their lively and outrageously excited audiences.

Recorded live at FitzGerald's Night Club in Berwyn, Illinois, this album is an outstanding example of how Director Lenny King has generated superb Kenton sounds that would be difficult to parallel. Stan Kenton would have been proud and very surprised because when it comes to musical dynamics, this band has got it all. If you listen to each section, the expressive intent of Kenton and his arrangers shines in a fine example of tone color, power and precision.

Each section of the band is aware of what it takes to create the sounds of the big band stylists that we still revere today. The expressive long sustained passages and flow are truly amazing. Lenny King has done a great job in developing an authentic mirror image of those amazing bands of yesteryear.

The band plays regularly at FitzGerald's Night Club and other Chicago locations. They have also performed concerts with such artists as jazz trumpet player Dennis Noday and in June 1996, they appeared with the Four Freshman in a tribute to Stan Kenton at the Four Freshman Society Convention in Lincolnshire.

Director Lenny King has over 40 years of activity in jazz commencing with his early musical education at Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University. Formerly Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Rolling Meadows High School, Lenny went on to lead and train many performing jazz groups that attained national recognition for their excellence.

Amongst the many Honors earned by Lenny King is The Citation for Excellence and the Outstanding Jazz Educator Award from the National Band Association in 1985. It should also be noted that the Rolling Meadows High School Band under his direction was selected to perform at the Mid-West National Band Clinic in 1978 and 1984, the MENC Convention in1984 and the NAJE National Convention in 1980. His jazz ensemble was also selected for the NAJE Project II record album.

In addition to his work as Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Mr. King serves as guest conductor and as adjudicator for clinics and music festivals in the Mid-West area.

His total dedication to training, the development of students and young talented jazz musicians, combined with his sheer energy and extensive musical knowledge, makes him one of the few people around, who could produce an exact Kenton sound and do justice to other renowned jazz orchestras as well.

"Live and Screamin' is a metaphor that illustrates the way in which the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra gets the attention of it's audience every time they perform in public. The audience gets what it wants; the jazz arrangers who made the big bands famous!

In showcasing trumpet star Dennis Noday for this album the accolade for initiative must go to Lenny King. The brilliance of Noday's playing in Maria and McArthur Park and the charts that were used, clearly identifies the versatility of this band in it's endeavor to produce the sounds of Maynard Fergerson, Stan Kenton and others.

Dennis Noday is not only exciting to listen to, but also plays with great feeling, power, and expression. His interpretation of Blue was passionate and soulful. His performance of each number made it clear that his comfort level with the band and his respect for the musicians supporting him, was infinite. Even Maynard would applaud!

For me, this is one of the most versatile and accomplished big bands I have ever heard. As a broadcaster and 'jazz host' I am always pleased to air any of the Lenny King cuts. As a listener and regular attendee at Fitgerald's Night Club, I scream as loudly as anyone else in the club after the band has finished a number. Lenny and the band have become my friends and I enjoy sharing those evenings with them. I suggest that now you have bought and listened to this album you too, will find yourself following the band around. If you do, it will be time well spent!

John Burnett
Jazz Host " All Things Jazz"
90.9FM WDCB Radio
Glen Ellyn / Chicago, Illinois



Read the CD Review by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz Magazine:

Live and ScreaminÂ
The Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (Lakeside Jazz)
by Jack Bowers

Stan lives! If you really want to know what big bands are all about, and why some people remain helplessly enchanted by their nearÂhypnotic charm, go directly to Track 3  do not pass go  and listen closely to Bill HolmanÂs breathtaking arrangement of ÂWhatÂs New?, brilliantly interpreted by Lenny KingÂs superlative Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (in whose ranks are some of the areaÂs finest Jazz musicians). If that doesnÂt convince you that the big bands arenÂt yet breathing their last, IÂd guess that nothing will. I believe my pulse rate must have doubled while the CMJO was reinvigorating that classic Holman chart, and I was grinning from ear to ear (always an indication of unbridled enjoyment). But this is no more than one should anticipate from KingÂs impressive orchestra, which has been dazzling Chicagoans for nearly four years with its marvelous interpretations of music written by or for Stan Kenton or performed by StanÂs fondly remembered big bands. Now, with Live and ScreaminÂ, recorded in front of a remarkably attentive and wellÂbehaved audience at FitzGeraldÂs nightclub in suburban Berwyn, the rest of the country  and the world  has a chance to learn what Chicago already knows, namely, that the venerated spirit of Kenton is alive and well in the Windy City thanks to the enterprising and talented CMJO. And not the spirit of Kenton alone, as the orchestra doesnÂt confine itself to his music. The highÂoctane opener, ÂMagic Flea, is a Basie chart written by the peerless Sammy Nestico. Woody Herman is represented by Don RaderÂs funky ÂGreasy Sack Blues, Maynard Ferguson by Don SebeskyÂs arrangement of ÂMaria and Adrian DroverÂs treatment of ÂMacArthur Park (each of which features the glassÂshattering trumpet of Dennis Noday). Noday also solos on Gordon BriskerÂs splendid arrangement of Bobby ShewÂs tribute to Blue Mitchell, ÂBlue. Besides ÂWhatÂs New?, the songs associated with Kenton include ÂA Time for Love (arranged by Hank Levy), the Lennie Niehaus tribute ÂI Remember Stan, HolmanÂs enchanting arrangement of ÂYesterdays (featuring the outstanding tenor saxophonist Mark Colby), Gene RolandÂs ÂFitz (especially appropriate in light of the venue), Johnny Richards fiery ÂEl Congo Valiente, the Niehaus arrangement of ÂBut Beautiful, and Dee BartonÂs treatment of ÂHereÂs That Rainy Day. Completing the program is the standard ÂSpring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (another terrific arrangement, this one by Frank Mantooth), which I believe June Christy or someone else (Chris Connor?) may have sung with the Kenton band. While the Holman charts (the first of which includes galvanizing solos by Colby, Terry Connell, Chris Sarlas and Tim Coffman) are in a class by themselves, everything on this spellbinding disc goes far beyond noteworthy. The ensemble is alert and explosive, the rhythm section alive and kickin butt, the soloists (especially Colby, Connell, Sarlas, pianist Don Stille and trombonists Tim Coffman, John Mose and Hary Kozlowski) sharp and resilient, and NodayÂs ÂMaynard impression almost letterÂperfect. Nowhere is the Kenton imprint more conspicuous than on ÂI Remember Stan, wherein StilleÂs unaccompanied piano is a virtual mirror image of StanÂs, while Niehaus perceptive arrangement and Jim PetersonÂs softÂflowing flugel solo reframe perfectly the magic that was and always will be Kenton. In one listenerÂs humble opinion, this is no less than a screamin masterpiece, and wherever Stan is, he must be smiling. If you can find a copy, grab it!

Track Listing: Magic Flea; A Time for Love; WhatÂs New?; Maria; I Remember Stan; Fitz; Yesterdays; El Congo Valiente; Blue; Greasy Sack Blues; But Beautiful; Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most; HereÂs That Rainy Day; MacArthur Park (68:30).

Personnel: Lenny King, leader; Dennis Noday, guest trumpet soloist; Chris Sarlas, John Irabagon, Kent Lawson, Mark Colby, Frank Catalano, Ken Kistner, saxophones; Joey Tartell, Kirk Garrison, Terry Connell, Jim Peterson, Tom Baker, Amir Elsaffar, Randy Kulik, trumpets; John Mose, Hary Kozlowski, Tim Coffman, Tom Stark, trombones; Joh McAllister, bass trombone, tuba; Don Stille, Ron Mills, piano; David Rothstein, bass; Charlie Braugham, Bob Chmel, drums; Al Keeler, Latin percussion.