The Boyd Raeburn Orchestra never achieved much popularity with the general public, but it was admired by many top musicians of the bebop era as one of the most innovative large ensembles, on a par with the more well-known
Stan Kenton band. Among the prominent musicians to have played with
Raeburn were trumpeters
Dizzy Gillespie and
Benny Harris; saxophonists
Johnny Bothwell,
Al Cohn, and
Serge Chaloff; drummers
Don Lamond and
Shelly Manne; and bassist
Oscar Pettiford. This superb album is comprised of tracks recorded by the band at its creative peak in the mid-'40s. The arrangements and original compositions by pianist
George Handy acknowledge developments in 20th-century classical music up to that time, melding poly-tonality, shifting meters, and irregular rhythms with bebop and contemporary big band techniques. The musicianship is absolutely top-notch. In terms of ensemble execution, the
Raeburn band was nearly unsurpassed, and the solos -- while often talking a backseat to the compositions themselves -- are frequently excellent. Of particular note is the work of the
Johnny Hodges-inspired alto saxophonist
Bothwell.
Handy's fanciful arrangements occasionally go off the deep end, but the extent of his creativity was considerable, and the balance of artistry and kitsch usually weighs in favor of the former. ~ Chris Kelsey