GORDON GOODWIN´S BIG PHAT BAND — That's How We Roll (2011) 24-44.1Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Upon seeing the title That's How We Roll, people who don't know anything about the history of pianist/tenor saxophonist Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band might assume that this is a hip-hop recording. "That's how we roll" is a popular expression in hip-hop circles (at least as of 2011), but like a lot of the bebop and hipster slang of the '40s and '50s, hip-hop slang often reaches people who aren't necessarily part of hip-hop's core audience, and that includes a jazz instrumentalist like Goodwin, who is jazz-oriented on this 67-minute CD but doesn't conduct himself like a jazz purist from start to finish. Goodwin has his traditional big-band influences (Count Basie, Buddy Rich), but it's obvious that he also has a taste for soul and funk; in fact, some of the horn arrangements on That's How We Roll successfully find the link between Basie's funkiness and the funkiness of '70s funk/soul bands such as Parliament/Funkadelic, Tower of Power and Earth, Wind & Fire. That's How We Roll has its share of tracks that could easily be described as big-band soul-jazz, including "Rippin' n Runnin'," "Howdiz Songo?," and the title tune. But "Race to the Bridge" and "Gaining on You" have boppish melodies, and Goodwin's hard-swinging arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" (which is the only song on this 2011 release he didn't compose) is quite Basie-minded. Meanwhile, the least jazz-friendly track is "Never Enough," which features Take 6 and is the only vocal offering on a predominantly instrumental CD; "Never Enough" is the only time the album ventures into outright funk (as opposed to jazz-funk or soul-jazz). That's How We Roll is not an album that was recorded with jazz purists in mind, and at the same time, there is way too much improvisation for the smooth jazz crowd. But this is an enjoyable outing if one is seriously into big-band jazz and also has a strong appreciation of soul and funk. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    That's How We Roll 7:06
Featuring, Alto Saxophone – Eric Marienthal
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
2    Howdix Sango? 7:10
Featuring, Guitar – Andrew Synowiec
Featuring, Trumpet – Wayne Bergeron
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
3    Rippin' N Runnin' 6:59
Featuring, Alto Saxophone – Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, Gerald Albright
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
4    Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn) 7:55
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Gordon Goodwin
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
5    Everlasting 5:40
Written-By, Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Gordon Goodwin
6    Gaining On You 5:33
Featuring, Piano – Gordon Goodwin
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Brian Scanlon
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
7    Never Enough 5:45
Featuring, Electric Bass – Marcus Miller
Featuring, Organ [B-3] – Gordon Goodwin
Featuring, Vocals – Take 6
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin, Lisa Goodwin
8    It's Not Polite To Point 7:54
Featuring, Trombone – Andy Martin, Charlie Morillas, Craig Ware, Francisco Torres
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
9    Race To The Bridge 6:11
Featuring, Alto Saxophone – Eric Marienthal
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Brian Scanlon
Written-By – Gordon Goodwin
Encore    
10    Rhapsody In Blue 7:26
Featuring, Clarinet – Sal Lozano
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Jeff Driskill
Featuring, Trombone – Andy Martin
Featuring, Trumpet – Wayne Bergeron
Written-By – George Gershwin
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Rick Shaw
Alto Saxophone – Kevin Garren (tracks: 5 to 7)
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Piccolo Flute – Sal Lozano
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Jay Mason
Drums – Bernie Dresel
Guitar – Andrew Synowiec
Percussion – Brad Dutz
Piano, Tenor Saxophone – Gordon Goodwin
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Eric Marienthal (tracks: 1 to 4, 8 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Brian Scanlon, Jeff Driskill
Trombone – Andy Martin, Charlie Morillas, Craig Gosnell (tracks: 1 to 7, 9), Craig Ware (tracks: 8, 10), Francisco Torres
Trumpet – Bob Summers, Dan Fornero (tracks: 1 to 4, 8 to 10), Dan Savant, Wayne Bergeron, Willie Murillo (tracks: 5 to 7)