Eyal Vilner’s Big Band does more than pay homage to the big bands of
yesteryear led by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and
Guy Lombardo. The Israeli born saxophonist/clarinet player rekindles the luster
of big band music and makes a place for this style to flourish in a modern world.
Vilner’s latest offering Introducing The Eyal Vilner Big Band deserves high marks
for integrating soft pitched winds like Pablo Castano’s flute with dark toned
horns like John Mosca’s and Kevin Cerovich’s trombones infusing them into a
complementing brew that reflects elegant ballroom dances. Israeli born vocalist
Yaala Ballin swoops in occasionally giving numbers like Irving Berlin’s “Isn’t It A
Lovely Day” and Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington’s effervescent “The
Nearness of You” a dreamy flutter which has audiences swallowed up by its
euphoric swells of floating horns.
The torching riffs of the saxophone and the twinkling keys glistening across
Vilner’s original composition “Your Eyes” create a brightly lit ambience swathe in
lightly brushed drum strokes. Meanwhile, the jumping furls of Andrew
Gould’s saxophone and the swiveling spires of Brandon Lee’s trumpet whisk
across Bud Powell’s glittery siesta-reefed “Un Poco Loco” inviting audiences along its
joy ride. The party atmosphere is reminiscent of the music featured in Dean
Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. movies. Vilner’s original track “New One” is slung in
suavely moving horns exhibiting a graceful swagger which shifts to a
waltzing strut in “Night Flight.” Ballin’s cooly simmered vocals return on Irving
Berlin’s “Remember” imbuing the tune with a feminine touch before closing the
album with the dulcetly pumped riffs of “Epilogue.”
Eyal Vilner’s Big Band is more than a flashback to ballroom jazz. He revives a
classic style of music and refines it to appeal to contemporary audiences. Vilner is
all about showing beauty through music, coordinating instrument parts, layering
them and integrating them into positively-charged melodies that are soothing on
the ears and caressing to the soul.
Musicians:
Eyal Vilner – alto saxophone and clarinet, Yaala Ballin – vocals, Andrew Gould –
alto saxophone and clarinet, Pablo Castano – alto saxophone and flute, Ned Goold
– tenor saxophone, Dan Block – tenor saxophone and clarinet, Jonah Parzen
Johnson – baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Cameron Johnson – trumpet,
Brandon Lee – trumpet and flugelhorn, John Mosca – trombone, Kevin Cerovich –
trombone, Yonatan Riklis – piano, Alexi David – bass, Yonatan Rosen – drums
Tracklisting:
Woody ‘N You, Your Eyes, Tonk, Isn’t This A Lovely Day, Un Poco Loco, The
Nearness of You, New One, Night Flight, Remember, Epilogue
