Louise Barranger Big Band: Trumpeter’s Prayer

This debut introduces an accomplished and experienced instrumentalist with fire, range, and sophistication-strong chops and ideas on trumpet, piccolo trumpet, and flugelhorn. Six arrangements by Tom Kubis (who’s also heard on soprano sax and piano) and four by tenorman Tommy Newsom, plus a nice Torrie Zito chart on the Michel Legrand/Bergman tune “The Way She Makes Me Feel,” well sung by Frank Sinatra, Jr. Two tracks feature the legendary trombonist Carl Fontana. The opener is a new scoring of “Well, Git It!” (the Sy Oliver/Tommy Dorsey classic), with trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval joining Barranger. Gisele Jackson adds a swinging vocal on “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.” Strings from the LA Philharmonic, with lovely harp by Corky Hale, sweeten the title track. The prolific author-composer-entertainer Steve Allen cheerfully introduces his own little riff, “Chitlins,” taken prestissimo. (Nota Bene: if you’re looking for fresh material, Steve has a lot of good tunes just waiting for you!) Barranger has a decade and a half of studio, TV, and Vegas show work; she knows who can play, and she’s assembled some of the best. Strongly recommended to big band buffs (there are plenty of them). Especially recommended for music teachers who would like to inspire female students who are considering jazz. This CD makes clear: all you have to do is play!

Originally Published January 1, 1999