Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine

Gimme That °, High Wire **, Keys to the City, Love You Madly **, Bass: The Final Frontier °°°, You'd Better Love Me While You May *, Mazel Tov Kocktail °°, I Wish You Love *, Springtime, Joy Spring **, West Wings, Where or When *
Ira B. Liss (dir), Janet Hammer *, Carly Ines (voc **, tb), rest of the orchestra detailed in the booklet + guests: Andrew Neu (ts) °, Mike Vax (tp) °, Dan Radlauer (acc) °°, Nathan East (eb) °°°
Recorded in 2020, San Diego, CA
Duration: 1h 04 '38' '
Tall Man Productions

The Big Band Jazz Machine is the adventure of a lifetime, that of its leader, saxophonist Ira B. Liss. Originally from San Diego, CA, he, like many, started out playing in his high school orchestra where his teacher switched him from viola to baritone due to his height (over 2 meters!). After studying music at university, Ira B. Liss worked in various groups, including those of Barney Kessel, Louie Bellson and Thad Jones. But it was the conduct of the orchestra that animated him, and in 1979 he created his Big Band Jazz Machine with a group of students. Made up exclusively of amateurs, the big band spent their first summer rehearsing in a high school before starting to perform in public. Over time, it is joined by older and more experienced musicians who gradually professionalize its operation.First Impressions , is registered. Four more will follow until Tasty Tunes (2017), which features Bob Mintzer as a guest.
Mazel Tov Kocktail! is the sixth recording of the Big Band Jazz Machine, made on the occasion of its 40 years, a beautiful anniversary, because we imagine what it takes energy and determination to keep such an ensemble alive for several decades. Several guests and six different arrangers contribute to a colorful and varied album that evokes both the big band tradition and more “modern” forms, including the electric “Bass: The Final Frontier” signed by Dan Radlauer, a multi-instrumentalist. composer for advertising and television, featuring guest bassist Nathan East. In addition, the title giving its name to the disc, "Mazel Tov Kocktail" (by the same author) evokes the klezmer music whose presence Ira B. Liss explains by its festive dimension, of circumstance. The theme skilfully mixes the klezmer - by the interventions of the accordion (Dan Radlauer) and the clarinet (April Leslie) - and the swing, provided by the orchestra. A third composition by Dan Radlauer, "Keys to the City", in the spirit of the 1970s and 1980s, features pianist Steve Sibley and saxophonist Greg Armstrong, here on flute. It is also an original which opens the disc, "Gimme That" of the saxophonist Andrew Neu invited precisely on this title. The tenor, an experienced sideman in both jazz and pop, is also a conductor and composer who loves brilliant arrangements à la Quincy Jones, enough to kick off the birthday party with garlands and paper lanterns. Two singers also appear on the record: Janet Hammer and Carly Ines (also trombonist) who stands out on a very spirited “High Wire” (Chick Corea) and a nice version of “Love You Madly” (Duke Ellington).Between convincing interpretations of the jazz repertoire and original not lacking in interest, the Big Band Jazz Machine offers itself an anniversary disc which crowns with refreshing enthusiasm its four decades of activity. At the time of the generalized epidemic of confinements and hysterical controls, we dream of making the trip to San Diego, to enjoy the good vibes of Ira B. Liss and his accomplices.