Rob McConnell: Things Ain't What They Used to Be

Track

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Group

Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass

CD

Brassy and Sassy (Concord 4508)

Buy Track

Musicians:

Big band featuring soloists Rick Wilkins (tenor sax), Ed Bickert (guitar)

.

Composed by Mercer Ellington, arranged by Rob McConnell

.

Recorded: Toronto, February 2, 1992

Albumcoverrobmcconnellandthebossbrass-brassyandsassy

Rating: 87/100 (learn more)

Despite its name -- the Boss Brass -- Rob McConnell’s Canadian big band does indeed include full saxophone and rhythm sections. And McConnell’s fresh-sounding arrangement of Mercer Ellington’s medium-tempo blues “Things Ain't What They Used To Be” gives all the horns an opportunity to shine collectively on a long unison ensemble passage adroitly written in the style of a bebop improvisation.

Reviewer: David Franklin

Tags: ·

Comments are closed.