The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful
Groovy Panda, 2021
8/10
Listen to The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful
A professor and veteran of the Los Angeles music scene, Jeff Benedict has collaborated with many jazz luminaries over the years, and here he’s in fine company as he offers 4 originals and several arrangement that span countless influences.
Benedict and company make an impression immediately with the opening track, “Moonscape”, where Paul McKee and Jeff Ellwood’s brass work together with much fluidity on the soulful start, and Miles Davis’ “Nardis” follows with a busy display of big band prowess and funk nods that benefits from Jeff Hellmer’s piano work.
Elsewhere, the title track spends 7 minutes dancing around rhythmic, melodic textures with incredible precision amid some blues qualities, while “Armadillo Research” takes us on an even longer journey of sax acrobatics from Benedict alongside McKee’s spirited trombone solos. “Cheek To Cheek”, the album highlight, then will get your body moving to its meticulous and frisky sax section, not to mention Hellmer’s piano solo.
The final 2 tracks don’t disappoint either, and include the playful trumpet approach from Brian Bettger on “Tom And Jerry”, and Quincy Jones’ “Hikky Burr” finishes the listen with some firm grooves courtesy of Dave Askren’s guitar work, Steve Hawk’s trumpet and, of course, Benedict’s keen attention to songwriting.
This is the sophomore album from The Jeff Benedict Big Big Band, and you’re going to enjoy jazz, blues, soul, swing and even reggae ideas across the 10 tracks, as the ensemble bring both retro and modern sounds to this very well thought out listen.
Travels well with: Chris Rottmayer- Sunday At Pillars; Charles Colizza Group- Hug The Devil