"Breakaway" - reviewed by Owen Cordle, Raleigh News and Observer
April 19, 09
Gelb Makes it Swing
Gig for gig, tenor saxophonist Gregg Gelb may have been the busiest jazz musician in central North Carolina for the last 20 years. As leader of the Gregg Gelb Swing Band, director of the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra, a founding member of the NC Jazz Repertory Orchestra, a jazz educator, and leader of numerous ad-hoc small groups, Gelb is, by example, an advocate for the music.
With "Breakaway" (MG Records) , he cuts to the heart of his experience - a quartet blowing session with seven of his original compositions.
Most of the tunes are singable, and Gelb offers warm-toned improvisation on each. His solos balance lyricism and fluid double -time passages. His rhythmic feeling is straight-ahead and swinging.
"Summer Haze,'" the lone clarinet performance, conjures up an exotic mood similar to Benny Carter's "Key Largo." "Big Change's Comin'" is the kind of swinging tune you can imagine the Count Basie Band playing. "Contemplation" is a fine ballad with sophisticated harmony.
Gelb's rhythm - pianist Steve Anderson, bassist Steve Haines and drummer Ben Jensen - proves itself tasteful and artful, with Anderson uncorking several variegated solos along the way."
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Gelb Makes it Swing
Gig for gig, tenor saxophonist Gregg Gelb may have been the busiest jazz musician in central North Carolina for the last 20 years. As leader of the Gregg Gelb Swing Band, director of the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra, a founding member of the NC Jazz Repertory Orchestra, a jazz educator, and leader of numerous ad-hoc small groups, Gelb is, by example, an advocate for the music.
With "Breakaway" (MG Records) , he cuts to the heart of his experience - a quartet blowing session with seven of his original compositions.
Most of the tunes are singable, and Gelb offers warm-toned improvisation on each. His solos balance lyricism and fluid double -time passages. His rhythmic feeling is straight-ahead and swinging.
"Summer Haze,'" the lone clarinet performance, conjures up an exotic mood similar to Benny Carter's "Key Largo." "Big Change's Comin'" is the kind of swinging tune you can imagine the Count Basie Band playing. "Contemplation" is a fine ballad with sophisticated harmony.
Gelb's rhythm - pianist Steve Anderson, bassist Steve Haines and drummer Ben Jensen - proves itself tasteful and artful, with Anderson uncorking several variegated solos along the way."
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Review of tune from "Breakaway" by Mark Saleski of Jazz.com
I don't know if your dad ever told you this but you have to be very careful with the funk. It can put permanent (and embarrassing!) stains on your clothes, bumping up your chance of making terrible first impressions in social situations.
Even worse: it can get you mistaken for a smooth jazz musician. Just think, one wrong move and you're sandwiched in between Kenny G and Boney James. Ouch.
As luck would have it, Gregg Gelb knows how to handle the funk [the tune is called "Funk It"]. He's got a drummer slinging with that loose-but-tight feel, a sympathetic piano player who can amp up the funk with snazzy unison lines as well as wide-ranging solos, and a bassist who can swing like crazy. This is one fun little tune. The soulful vibe might induce spontaneous body part wavin', but I predict no other social disturbances.
Even worse: it can get you mistaken for a smooth jazz musician. Just think, one wrong move and you're sandwiched in between Kenny G and Boney James. Ouch.
As luck would have it, Gregg Gelb knows how to handle the funk [the tune is called "Funk It"]. He's got a drummer slinging with that loose-but-tight feel, a sympathetic piano player who can amp up the funk with snazzy unison lines as well as wide-ranging solos, and a bassist who can swing like crazy. This is one fun little tune. The soulful vibe might induce spontaneous body part wavin', but I predict no other social disturbances.
Review of Breakaway by Stan Dick of the CVNC
for full review go to http://cvnc.org/reviews/cd_dvd_book/cd/Gelb.html
"For this outing, Gelb offers a program of seven original compositions. The melodic line of the clarinet feature, “Summer Haze,” suggests a humid, dreamy southern evening. “Boppin’ to the Mambo” is a cooking confection that provides a fine springboard for dense improvisations while retaining an infectious dancing lilt. “Funk It!” is a spacious, vampish line that liberates Gelb and the band to play with the density of their improvisations.
The ballad, “Contemplation” is a clever variation on Duke Ellington’s classic theme, “What Am I Here For?” The tune’s slow tempo gives the listener an opportunity to luxuriate in Gelb’s full, rich tone. Invoking an Ellington theme can be perilous for a tenor saxophonist, as it conjures the ghosts of Ellington orchestra mainstays Webster and Paul Gonsalves, but Gelb rises to the occasion, avoiding flash and offering an eloquent, poised set of variations."
"For this outing, Gelb offers a program of seven original compositions. The melodic line of the clarinet feature, “Summer Haze,” suggests a humid, dreamy southern evening. “Boppin’ to the Mambo” is a cooking confection that provides a fine springboard for dense improvisations while retaining an infectious dancing lilt. “Funk It!” is a spacious, vampish line that liberates Gelb and the band to play with the density of their improvisations.
The ballad, “Contemplation” is a clever variation on Duke Ellington’s classic theme, “What Am I Here For?” The tune’s slow tempo gives the listener an opportunity to luxuriate in Gelb’s full, rich tone. Invoking an Ellington theme can be perilous for a tenor saxophonist, as it conjures the ghosts of Ellington orchestra mainstays Webster and Paul Gonsalves, but Gelb rises to the occasion, avoiding flash and offering an eloquent, poised set of variations."
Comments from the Cultural Arts Coordinator following concerts at a local high school on Nov. 18, 2009
The eight-piece Gregg Gelb Jazz Band performed two concerts at Fuquay-Varina High School.
"Gregg, Thank you so very much for the wonderful performances at Fuquay-Varina High School last week. Our older son was able to attend the first block show and gave us a glowing report. I also thought you would enjoy reading the comments from our principal, Edward McFarland: 'The band was incredible. I enjoyed the music so much and Gregg was great. He taught jazz history and explained the background and context of each selection - which made each tune that much more interesting. His wife has a wonderfully sultry blues voice - I was not expecting vocals. The kids really enjoyed the program and were so well behaved. They took part in the program, asked and answered questions, and overall were terrific. Thank you for taking the time and putting in the work to plan such an event for our kids. It was worth the effort." Laurie Lympany, Cultural Arts Coordinator
"Gregg, Thank you so very much for the wonderful performances at Fuquay-Varina High School last week. Our older son was able to attend the first block show and gave us a glowing report. I also thought you would enjoy reading the comments from our principal, Edward McFarland: 'The band was incredible. I enjoyed the music so much and Gregg was great. He taught jazz history and explained the background and context of each selection - which made each tune that much more interesting. His wife has a wonderfully sultry blues voice - I was not expecting vocals. The kids really enjoyed the program and were so well behaved. They took part in the program, asked and answered questions, and overall were terrific. Thank you for taking the time and putting in the work to plan such an event for our kids. It was worth the effort." Laurie Lympany, Cultural Arts Coordinator
Comments from the North Carolina Symphony
Hi Gregg- BRAVO to you for your superb job negotiating and finessing the big solo in the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances. I've never heard it more beautifully played, both technically and spiritually. Many thanks! All the Best, Bill Curry (William Henry Curry, Associate Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra)