By Kirk Silsbee | Published January 2018
Germany’s WDR Big Band looms large in the career history of Los Angeles-based composer/arranger Vince Mendoza. Since 1992 he has recorded an homage to Arif Mardin and collaborations with the Brecker Brothers, Joe Zawinul and Chano Dominguez with the orchestra. In 2014 Mendoza conducted the band in a Cologne concert of new original pieces, heard here for the first time. While he makes good use of capable soloists throughout, the writing is front-and-center.
Mendoza is a superb colorist who ably allows his themes to build and his textures to turn. Rhythm and movement, always graceful, swirl throughout. Latin rhythms and textures bubble up, and “Keep It Up” has to be one of the more sublime orchestrations of funk. In Mendoza’s hands, this orchestra can dance like a small group.
Introspective interludes and a relaxed tone mark this album as the work of a master who has many colors in his paint box. He shows that a chart can swing without forte bombast.
Homecoming: Keep It Up; Little Voice; Choros #3; Homecoming; Amazonas; One Times One; Daybreak. (54:57)
Personnel: Wim Both, Andy Haderer, Rob Bruynen, Ruud Breuls, John Marshall, trumpet; Ludwig Nuss, Andy Hunter, Shannon Barnett, trombone; Mattis Cederberg, bass trombone, tuba; Johan Hor- len, Karolina Strassmayer, Olivier Peters, Paul Heller, Jens Neufangwoodwinds; Frank Chastenier, piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ; Paul Shigihara, electric and acoustic guitars; John Goldsby, electric and acoustic basses; Hans Dekker, drums; Marcio Doctor, percussion.
