Big Fat Brass/Bill's Bag

Big Fat Brass/Bill's Bag Artist: Billy May
Label: EMI Gold Imports
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Format: Original recording reissued
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 724353520625
EAN: 0724353520625
ASIN: B00005NGSG


Release Date: 2001-10-04

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Classic Big Band Classic Big Band
Related | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Contemporary Big Band Contemporary Big Band
Related | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz Jazz
Related | Imports | Stores | Music

Listmania:

  1. World class trumpeters

Tracks:

  1. Brassmen's Holiday
  2. Autumn Leaves
  3. Love Is The Thing
  4. Ping Pong
  5. Moonlight Becomes You
  6. Pawn Ticket
  7. Solving The Riddle
  8. Invitation
  9. The Continental
  10. Return Of The Zombie
  11. On A Little Street In Singapore
  12. Jooms Jooms
  13. Children Of The Night
  14. Uh! Oh! (Nutty Squirrels)
  15. The Preacher
  16. Playboy's Theme
  17. The Late, Late Show
  18. Dat Dere
  19. Filet Of Soul
  20. Whisper Not
  21. Miles Behind
  22. Moanin'
  23. My Little Suede Shoes
  24. Shiny Stockings

Similar Items:

  1. A Band Is Born/Big Band Bash
  2. A Proper Introduction to Billy May: Billy's Best
  3. Joy of Living/Love Is a Game of Poker
  4. Plays the Standards
  5. Hey...Let Yourself Go!/C'mon...Get Happy!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars ¡Mejor imposible!¡As good as it gets!.......2006-12-04

No hagan caso de lo que escribió la persona que le dió una sola estrella a estas dos obras maestras del arte del arreglo y del swing a través de su historia.La Big band de Billy May fué maravillosa en la primera mitad de los 50's y éstos dos LPs de finales de los 50's y principios de los 60's fueron los dos mejores LPs que May grabó en toda su carrrera. El que escribió diciendo que la música no servía yo le pediría que no escribiera de lo que no sabe. Éstos dos LPs en un CD es de lo mejor grabado y escrito por quien siempre estará en la gloriosa historia de la música para Big Bands.+++++++++++++++++++

1 out of 5 stars Disapointed.......2006-03-10

Big Faf Brass and Bill's Bag were the two most disapointing albums I've heard by Billy May. I don't pretend to be an authority on music other that I know what sounds good and what doesn't. After hearing "A BAND IS BORN" and others I'm wondering why would he (MAY) go away from the style that made him in the first place. The song selections were a disaster and I know that my CD of BIG FAT BRASS/BILL'S BAG will be gathering dust on my shelf.

Don Schmidt
Alexandria,MN

5 out of 5 stars Big Band Brass at its Best.......2002-10-14

This cd reissue would be worth the price of admission if just for BIG FAT BRASS (June 1958) alone. It is not only Billy May's best album but is also one of the finest, if not THE finest, brass albums ever made. It also won the 1958 grammy for best instrumental performance; no mean feat considering the overall excellence of jazz/popular music produced during that period. It is an unconventional, watershed album that solidified May as an arranger of uncommon savvy and sensibilities. But BILL'S BAG (1963) is also a commendable effort in its own right.

BIG FAT BRASS personnel were the cream of the crop of Hollywood musicians, including the likes of Conrad Gozzo, Si Zentner, Manny Klein and Maynard Ferguson among many others. Fortunately May also utilized his regular superb rhythm section of Paul Smith, piano; Joe Mondragon, bass; Al Hendrickson, guitar; and the always impeccable Alvin Stoller on drums. There was also a percussion section giving added color.

The tunes are uniformly excellent with the rousing BRASSMEN'S HOLIDAY starting the proceedings. Also outstanding is the relentless martial beat of RETURN OF THE ZOMBIE, impressive in its power and swagger and an almost mystical ON A LITTLE STREET IN SINGAPORE. There is also what I consider THE definitive version of INVITATION (hear for yourself!). One of my favorites is JOOM JOOMS, a fine showcase for the smooth brass ensemble and May's unstoppable sense of humor.

BILL'S BAG returns to the conventional big band format with the return of the reed section. There are romping swingers, such as THE LATE LATE SHOW, THE PREACHER, and CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (featuring what sounds like Maynard Ferguson in the stratosphere) and a very Mancini-like UH OH! (Nutty Squirrels). This album is unlike any other May You've ever heard before, much more jazz oriented.

Fortunately both albums were remastered for this cd in stereo and the results are sonically outstanding. There are reproductions of the album front and back covers and that's about it. That means no player personnel listing for BILL'S BAG.

This cd two-fer comes very highly recommended, so sit back and dig some truly great music created by a master of his craft.

5 out of 5 stars Incredible brass playing!.......2002-07-08

This features two of Billy May's best albums together on one CD. The real dazzler is May's Big Fat Brass album. The style of music might be best described as Jazz-Pop and it features basically a standard big band instrumentation except that the sax section is replaced by 5 french horns. The musicians are the cream of LA's studio session players, and Billy gives them one heck of a workout. The arrangements really showcase the brass. I've had the LP of this since the early '60's and the digital mastering is top notch. It sounds as if it were recorded yesterday.

Bill's Bag (from 1963) features a more conventional big band instrumentation and fine arranging. Again, the brass are also front and center, with some incredible "screech" trumpet playing.

The 6-page note insert features reproductions of the front and back of each original LP album cover (although you'll need a good-quality magnifying glass to actually read them!). If you like jazz and audacious brass playing, this album is for you.

Music CD:

  1. Sahara ~ McCoy Tyner
  2. Honky Tonk Train: The Boogie Woogie Craze ~ Jim Cullum
  3. The Classic Sessions: 1927 to 1949 ~ Eddie Condon
  4. The Max Weinberg 7 ~ The Max Weinberg 7
  5. The Real Me ~ Patti Austin
  6. Layin' in the Cut ~ James Carter
  7. Put on a Happy Face ~ Stan Hope
  8. At the Opera House ~ Stan Getz with J.J. Johnson
  9. The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings of John Coltrane (Incl: 7 CD's; 72 Pg. Hd.C. Book) ~ John Coltrane
  10. Solo Voyage ~ Denny Zeitlin

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Komplex Feelings ~ Dulaa

EP ~ Rachael Yamagata

Intergalactic Boogie Express: Live in Europe 1991 ~ Robert Fripp & The League of Crafty Guitaris

Yellow Light ~ Jon Hyde

Bucket of Fish ~ Radiators

Strange Days

Full Throttle ~ Various Artists

Hogyssey ~ Spacehog

Life, Love and Confusion ~ Regg Henny

Joe Budden ~ Joe Budden