Postcards From Hollywood – Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra West

“What a BAND!! Man, what an absolute HONOR it is to be standing in front of such an incredible aggregation of wonderful musicians and friends! I must be the luckiest bandleader in the world! Thank you ALL!!”    -Scott Whitfield

“Arrangers are restless souls whose brains quite often won’t shut up long enough for them to get a good night’s sleep,” Whitfield says from personal experience. “The journey upon which you’re about to embark is proof of the fruits of many a sleepless night, but he sincerely hopes you will agree that it was all worthwhile.”

Prior to Whitfield’s arrival in Southern California, he developed a keen interest in film music, and even ended up studying the art form seriously at UCLA. There have been many celebrated composers who shaped and defined this genre over the past near-century, and his goal with this recording is to pay homage to a cross-section of the greats, through the medium of his Jazz Orchestra West. Some of these themes will be very familiar to the listener, while others are much more obscure. In some cases, he stayed pretty close to the original concept of the piece.

Scott Whitfield, leader, trombone, bass trombone (10), all arrangements
Rusty Higgins, alto sax, soprano sax, flute, piccolo
Kirsten Edkins, tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet
Brian Williams, baritone sax
Tony Bonsera, lead trumpet, flugelhorn (except 5, 8, 11)
Dave Richards, lead trumpet (5, 8, 11)
Kye Palmer, trumpet, flugelhorn (lead on 4)
Anne King, trumpet, flugelhorn
Gary Tole, trombone
Ira Nepus, trombone
Rich Bullock, bass trombone
Jeff Colella, piano
Jennifer Leitham, bass
Kendall Kay, drums

SPECIAL GUESTS: 
Pete Christlieb, tenor sax
Brad Dutz, percussion
Dick Nash, trombone
Rickey Woodard, tenor sax

REVIEW:

This project has pulled several favorite songs from motion picture scores and titled the project, “Postcards from Hollywood.”  You will hear songs that became popular from films like Gone with the Wind (1940), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and Cleopatra (1963).  Prior to his arrival in Southern California, Scott Whitfield developed a keen interest in film soundtracks.  He even wound up studying the art form at a UCLA Extension course.

“My goal with this recording is to pay homage to a cross-section of the greats, through the medium of my Jazz Orchestra West. Some of these themes will be very familiar to the listener, while others are much more obscure.  In some cases, I stayed pretty close to the original concept of the piece.  In others, the muse led me on a much more circuitous route,” he wrote in his liner notes.

They open with “The Magnificent Seven”, a main theme from the movie of the same title.  Kye Palmer makes a soaring statement on his trumpet solo and Kendall Kay is magnificent on drums.  “Sally’s Tomato” from the “Breakfast at Tiffany” film is a warm, lilting, Latin arrangement where Jennifer Latham offers a memorable bass solo and Scott Whitfield’s trombone shines, center stage.  Whitfield has included special guests in this production and familiar names on the Southern California scene like Rickey Woodard and Pete Christlieb on saxophones, Brad Dutz on percussion and Dick Nash on trombone.  The bandleader has also built a band that celebrates the wealth of Los Angeles talent including respected names like Jeff Colello on piano, and Anne King on trumpet and flugelhorn. Speaking of King, she plays beautifully while soloing during the “Tara’s Theme” arrangement as does Rusty Higgins on soprano saxophone.  Other favorites on this album are arrangements of “A Time for Love” plucked from the “An American Dream” film.  Kirsten Edkins offers a lovely tenor saxophone solo and Kye Palmer plays a mean flugelhorn.  But it’s Whitfield who sparkles and swings in the spotlight with his trombone talent.  Uniting with the strong bass support of Jennifer Latham on her upright instrument, Whitfield puts down his trombone and shows off his vocals, singing “Spellbound” from the movie of the same title.  On “The Pawnbroker” Rickey Woodard plays with his usual soulful dexterity and emotional sincerity during his tenor saxophone solo. This might be my favorite tune on the whole album.

-Musical Memoirs

REVIEW:

THE SCOTT WHITFIELD JAZZ ORCHESTRA WEST – “POSTCARDS FROM HOLLYWOOD” – Summit Records

Scott Whitfield, trombone/bass trombone/bandleader/arranger; Jeff Colello, piano; Jennifer Latham, bass; Kendall Kay, drums; Rusty Higgins, alto & soprano saxophone/flute/piccolo; Kersten Edkins, tenor  & soprano saxophone/clarinet; Brian Williams, baritone saxophone; Tony Bonsera, lead trumpet/flugelhorn; Dave Richards, lead trumpet; Kye Palmer & Anne King, trumpet flugelhorn; Gary Tole & Ira Nepus, trombones; Rich Bullock, bass trombone. SPECIAL GUESTS: Pete Christlieb & Rickey Woodard, tenor saxophone; Dick Nash, trombone; Brad Dutz, percussion.

This project has pulled several favorite songs from motion picture scores and titled the project, “Postcards from Hollywood.”  You will hear songs that became popular from films like Gone with the Wind (1940), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and Cleopatra (1963). Prior to his arrival in Southern California, Scott Whitfield developed a keen interest in film soundtracks.  He even wound up studying the art form at a UCLA Extension course.

“My goal with this recording is to pay homage to a cross-section of the greats, through the medium of my Jazz Orchestra West.  Some of these themes will be very familiar to the listener, while others are much more obscure.  In some cases, I stayed pretty close to the original concept of the piece.  In others, the muse led me on a much more circuitous route,” he wrote in his liner notes.

The Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra West opens with “The Magnificent Seven,” a main theme from the movie of the same title.  Kye Palmer makes a soaring statement on his trumpet solo and Kendall Kay is magnificent on drums.  “Sally’s Tomato” from the “Breakfast at Tiffany” film is a warm, lilting, Latin arrangement where Jennifer Latham takes a memorable bass solo and Scott Whitfield’s trombone shines in center stage.  Whitfield has included special guests in this production and familiar names on the Southern California scene like Rickey Woodard and Pete Christlieb on saxophones, Brad Dutz on percussion and Dick Nash on trombone.  The bandleader has also built a band that celebrates the wealth of Los Angeles talent including respected names like Jeff Colello on piano, and Anne King playing trumpet and flugelhorn. Speaking of King, she plays beautifully while soloing during the “Tara’s Theme” arrangement as does Rusty Higgins on soprano saxophone.  Other favorites on this album are arrangements of “A Time for Love” plucked from the “An American Dream” film.  Kirsten Edkins offers a lovely tenor saxophone solo and Kye Palmer plays a mean flugelhorn.  But it’s Whitfield who sparkles and swings in the spotlight on his trombone solo.  With the strong bass support of Jennifer Latham on her upright instrument, Whitfield puts down his trombone and shows off his vocals, singing “Spellbound” from the movie of the same title.  On “The Pawnbroker” Rickey Woodard plays with his usual soulful dexterity and emotional sincerity on his tenor saxophone solo. This might be my favorite tune on the whole album.

-LA Jazz Scene

REVIEW:

Trombonist and bandleader Scott Whitfield brings out some of LA’s legends for this fun and swinging collection of interpretations of Silver Screen etudes . Studio stud Pete Christlieb comes back in town for a bold tenor solo on the impressionistic take of “Entre’Act/First Love Theme (From Cleopatra)”, and ditto goes for the legendary trombonist Dick Nash for a  graceful “The Bad and the Beautiful” as he runs the anchor leg for fellow slidersRich Bullock, Gary Tole, Ira Nepus and Whitfield. Percussionist Brad Dutz teams with drummer Kendall Kay for a big staccato’d and bold attack on the dark side on “The Force Theme” while the leader has his gun slinging for “The Magnificent Seven” and the sauntering “Sally’s Tomato”. Soprano saxist Kirsten Edkins bops on “North By Northwest” and Anne King is bold and beautiful on a funky “Tara’s Theme”. Bring your popcorn!

-Jazz Weekly