Microsoft Jazz Band at Big Daddy’s ~ 2010

One of the unexpected pleasures of working at a world-class company is working with some very talented and smart people. Many of my friends play musical instruments so a number of years ago I put together the Microsoft Jazz Band. This year was the highlight, for me, of our playing career when local music luminaries Darren Motamedy (on tenor and sop sax) and Dennis Haldane (on trumpet) sat in for the July gig at Big Daddy’s in Woodinville. Here is just one song that we played that night:

JaAG’s solo is at the 3:40 minute mark.

“How Sweet It Is” comes from the Sammy Nestico Orchestra CD, Basie & Beyond. It is just one of the many Quincy Jones CDs that I own and love. And here’s a pitch for the CD:

“Jones arranged and produced a number of Basie LPs in the 1960s, and he also arranged the music when Frank Sinatra and Basie convened on classics like It Might As Well Be Spring , so it should surprise no one how well Basie and Beyond swings. The band is composed of topnotch West Coast session men, featuring flutist Hubert Laws, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Along with a few no-nonsense tunes by Nestic--including "Ya Gotta Try ... Harder!," "The Joy of Cookin'," and "Out of the Night"--the date features Jones's several rare 1950s and '60s tunes: a midtempo update of "Jelly Roll" highlighted by tenor saxophonist Watts's Coltrane-ish lines. The Tadd Dameron-tinged ballad "Quintessence" and the late-night Kansas City stroll of "The Witching Hour" show Q's still got it.” ~ Eugene Holley Jr.

The  next MJB gig is on the 4th Saturday in January at Third Place Books. Be there or be square.