Better late than never…I have this album for some time now but due to my state of hibernation (guess I’ve mentioned it now often enough…lol), I review it but now…since this is classical big band jazz, that’s timeless anyway it really doesn’t matter that the review wasn’t written soon after the album’s release. And after listening to the album the fourth time now, I really wonder why I haven’t listened to it before…it’s that good.
George Gee has founded his own label GJazz Records and Settin’ The Pace is its debut release. And what a fine record it is. It just has written class and quality all over it. George and his 17 piece band bring us the right combination of jazz standards, original compostions (by producer/music director Frank Foster), instrumentals and vocal tracks. Featured vocalists are the impressive Carla Cook as singer on three songs (Lover Come Back, The Very Thought Of You and Autumn Leaves) and Lance Bryant on I Don’t Want To Learn To Sing The Blues.
Of course George gets some extra points for including my favourite latin jazz instrumental Mambo Inn here. It’s a real pleasure to hear this in a big band arrangement with lots of percussion by Renato Thoms.
Songs like Bass In Yo’ Face or the title track Settin’ The Pace really show that there’s nothing that can beat real musicians with real instruments. If they come together and have some fun on the recording session and it’s captured on record than you have an album like this that is an enjoyment to listen to. Furthermore Settin’ The Pace prooves that big band jazz still can sound as good as it did in its heyday.
For more infos visit gjazzrecords.com.