“A Big, Phat ‘Rhapsody In Blue’…As is true for so many top musicians, Gershwin’s works — his popular songs, his opera Porgy and Bess, his jazz-informed classical compositions — live on. Now, there’s a new version of one of Gershwin's best-loved orchestral pieces, arranged for a brassy big band…Gordon Goodwin did his big-band arrangement in only two days — talk about hustle…With his arrangement, Goodwin’s band makes vibrato without strings. In another section, he pumps it with brass and sets it to swing…Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band plays this arrangement of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ on its newest album, That's How We Roll.”
NPR Morning Edition
“The collection serves as a culmination of Gordon Goodwin’s decade of leading his ambitious big band. Having beaten the survival odds for jazz orchestras, don’t count on it to serve as the Big Phat Band’s ultimate statement. The decade has shown that Goodwin’s vocabulary and ability to attract first-rate players just keep expanding…Anything this great calls for at least 10 more years.” ****1/2
DownBeat
“The disc boasts impeccable musicianship that stretches from swing to Latin to funk and other styles, coupled with an audience-embracing pop sensibility and an offbeat sense of humor.”
JazzTimes
“Goodwin has his traditional big-band influences (Count Basie, Buddy Rich), but it’s obvious that he also has a taste for soul and funk; in fact, some of the horn arrangements on That’s How We Roll successfully find the link between Basie’s funkiness and the funkiness of ‘70s funk/soul bands such as Parliament/Funkadelic, Tower of Power and Earth, Wind & Fire…this is an enjoyable outing if one is seriously into big-band jazz and also has a strong appreciation of soul and funk.”
All Music
“The slick, swinging and showbiz Gordon Goodwin Big Plat Band are celebrating their zillionth CD, That’s How We Roll (on Concord), at Catalina’s on Tuesday. It’ll be a good show; they can’t help themselves but play good shows.”
LA Weekly
“Built on a bed of technical excellence and a love for the music, the nostalgia That’s How We Roll generates for the big band era never threatens originality. Indeed, Gordon Goodwin has created a remarkably fresh piece of work that, without doubt, is one of the most interesting of the year so far.”
JazzReview.com
“If Gordon Goodwin never wrote, performed, or arranged music again, he’d already have made his mark…Happily, he’s not one to rest on past achievements and with the 18-member Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Gordon is bringing large ensemble jazz to whole new audiences by infusing the music with his wide-ranging tastes.”
JAZZed
“That’s How We Roll is not recommended for purists of any sort – if you enjoy good-humored big band/large ensemble music with plenty of deftness and chops regardless of ‘genre,’ by all means dig in.”
Jazz Inside Magazine
“Goodwin writes big-band music for the contemporary listener—if in doubt, listen to the treatment given to Gershwin’s timeless ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ The tune opens with an uptempo crescendo that leads to the familiar clarinet-centered intro. The band then goes into a more traditional bluesy groove, which lasts about a minute until they pick up the tempo and play at breakneck speed. This is clearly not your grandfather’s big band album. RECOMMENDED.”
New City
‘This is an 18-piece ensemble of top West Coast studio musicians that is set up similar to the big bands of the 30s and 40s, but playing with a lot more up to date sound, hard and fast rhythms and often astonishing virtuosity. Elements of Basie and Ellington are heard, mixed with fusion and pop sounds such as Tower of Power and Stevie Wonder…The first nine tracks are all Goodwin originals, and they all exhibit an exciting upbeat feeling, leavened with plenty of good humor and pop music influences.”
Audiophile Audition
“…an edgy, modern day sound that’s infectious, musical and most of all, danceable. One listen to this superb band and you’ll be shaking your booty in the aisles (or wherever you happen to be hanging out)…Outstanding!”
Metronome (Boston)
“Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band never met a groove it couldn’t love, and its arrangements have more intricacy than such big-beat music’s straightforward emotional profile usually suggests…I don’t usually like to hear Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ messed with, but I found Goodwin’s 7-minute-plus version very much in the spirit of the original, with some concise soloing and a reshuffling of its familiar tunes amounting to a new interpretation of the most famous attempt ever to fit jazz into the concert hall.”
IndyStar.com
“From the first note to the last, this record will hold your attention. Smooth, charming… and strong! This record has it all.”
Jay Vee Music
“Goodwin’s music shows a wide array of influences, including Ellington, ‘70s funk, Warner Brothers cartoon soundtracks, and Frank Zappa. There’s a healthy dose of humor in his jazz, but the arrangements are precise and well thought out…That’s How We Roll benefits from Goodwin’s broad musical interests and his ability to write arrangements that let his band wail…The recording, mastered by Doug Sax, is pristine digital, and while I occasionally wished for a bit more warmth, the sound is detailed and the full soundstage captures the scale of the band.” 4 of 5
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