Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra / Dolphin Dance

[@ISLEaxe]

That's my favorite band of all time.Been listening since high school.Love the way he voices the saxes sometimes with the soprano on top.And Kenny Garrett is just awesome.This band will endure for the ages with all the recordings they've made successfully.

[@RudeBoy-hx1fn]

Oh shit! I didn't realize Kenny Garrett played on this until I heard him playing. What a fucking SOUND... no one else sounds like that.

[@themightyquinn94]

Ignore my devils advocate remark but I always thought he just sounds like Cannonball with the bebop taken out.

[@drnrqsldch]

ehm, sounds incredible either way… and cannonball is more of a roundish sound and they have a different time feel as well.

[@luisvillanueva5725]

Both are, (for me), the hardest alto's to transcribe, thinking about tried to sound like same.

[@markbridwell8972]

Please avoid the "F" word in the future . Thank you .

[@DaDarkGuy]

@@markbridwell8972 Are you that fucking sensitive that you must reply to a 7 year old comment about their vocabulary? Valuable contribution to the thread right here

[@nyvcr502]

I feel a real tribute to Thad and respect for him that Mel is conducting from the drums. No one can replace Thad. God Bless Thad Jones.

[@swan4163]

Gotta love that late-70s/early-80s Vaseline-on-the-lens technique to get those horns to sparkle! lol

[@steviemusic1]

Trumpets, from left to right, are Tom Harrell, Earl Gardner (lead), Joe Mosello and John Marshall

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Kenny Garrett really blows the hell out of that alto. Great sound.

[@uroko2993]

3:27 lol I actually used this lick to laugh at my friends when I was 5

[@joksal9108]

That’s a GREAT sax section. Wow.

[@Cymbalgroove]

Mel had one of the widest cymbal beats in history! So relaxed and swinging!!

[@Gemashke]

The great Trombone player/comedian John Mosca!!! ;) Great guy, great solo!!

[@martyscott4701]

Man! He’s the best I study with him and some one I call a true inspiration and a friend.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

@@martyscott4701 I've always loved his playing. Out of curiosity, is he still with VJO? (He was missing from a show a couple years back...)

[@martyscott4701]

@@Dana_Danarosana No, unfortunately he’s not his last year with that band was 2018 I believe.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

@@martyscott4701 Thanks for the info. I was just hoping he was well... been playing bone for 35+ years myself and I'm a longtime fan. All the best.

[@TromboneRockGod]

I got a John Mosca story… In the mid 80’s I used to go to Barry Harris’s group lessons at the Jazz Cultural Theatre in Manhattan. It would be 6 to 10 horn players on different wind instruments and Barry would compose a bop tune on the spot by singing 2 bars at a time and the group would have to play back what he just sang. Each time Barry added 2 more bars, we replayed his tune from the beginning and then just added the next 2 bars he just sang. And they were real bop lines man! We’re about 40 mins into a lesson one day and John Mosca walks in, sits down, apologies for being late so Barry says, “I’ll tell where we’re up to”. Barry then sang the head 2 bars at a time, John played back each 2 bars that Barry sang without repeating the beginning each time. In less than 60 seconds, John had the head memorized and was playing it better than virtually everyone in the room who’ve been sitting there for the last 40 minutes. It was so impressive how quickly Mosca learned the tune, I was absolutely astounded. One of the beautiful things about jazz is you’re always standing on the shoulders of giants. But on that day I realised one of those jazz giants was sitting in the chair next to me, and his name was John Mosca.

[@MellouwMusic]

I’ll forever be coming back to this video to hear Kenny.

[@wazoo4495]

agree !!!

[@Misteure6heure]

Kenny is just incredible, his sound is just fantastic, the saxophone section is actually one of the best ever..... Just listen to the sound with only one chord they just blow your mind...... I'm gonna transcribe Kenny's solo!

[@stuartbritton4811]

Who's Kenny?

[@Misteure6heure]

@@stuartbritton4811 Kenny Garrett

[@loucalifano1002]

2nd from the right in trumpet section is a friend of mine from NJ - Joe Mosello. We played in several big bands together. He also played in Maynard's band. He's a great player.

[@jefferyperkins4668]

That’Tom Harrell on 4th trpt.

[@stevebpt]

SO nice to see this. I had it on VHS many years ago when I was playing sax. Hung up the horn 3 years ago, but seeing this again has whet my appetite. Kenny Garrett's alto solo is nothing short of perfect in this tune. Truly inspirational. I recommend any young sax players wanting to learn how to build a solo in a big band scenario they watch this time and time again! Fantastic!

[@301250]

Jazz, America's greatest gift to the world! sd goh (malaysia)

[@stevenalexander7413]

Mel's harmonic ear was simply genius. To be able to hear and write these heavenly charts are things us mere humans can only imagine writing. Also, much respect to Herbie for birthing this great tune.

[@rdangelo]

Mintzer chart

[@awreckingball]

It's by Bob Mintzer.

[@markbridwell8972]

He was known as Mel "the tailor" Lewis in the earlier part of his career .

[@trane1959]

Mr. John Mosca!!!!

[@johnbeckett1401]

OK- an old memory- WYRS out of Stamford Connecticut, before they became WJAZ and then went away- I always remember this song as their station break theme music. Maybe even this version- but quite some time ago. I listened to them when I was in college- 1982-1986

[@ratchetheros]

This 1 was nicely arranged: every section is respecting the other, there is no too much overlapping and you can clearly appreciate every sound

[@bassisthenrik]

Dennis Irwing sounds so great! Incredible guy.

[@freckleface409]

Such a huge and organic sound.

[@rickdavenport9538]

No one can play Dolphin Dance wrong but this rendition is exceptional!

[@beedoe51]

Great chart!! Mel was sooooooo smooth!!!

[@jeancourtioux1311]

Tout le disque enregistré à Montreux en 80 sur des thèmes de Herbie Hancock, orchestré par bob Mintzer est une pure splendeur. Écoutez particulièrement "Speak like a child"; un ravissement.

[@trane1959]

holy crap. Talk about a collection of influential sax players. Has there ever been this caliber of grouping of sax players before they influenced the sax world like this. You have arguably the most influential alto and tenor player of the last 30 years and then Dick for lead alto playing and Smulyan for bari players. Just wow.

[@billgargaro916]

That's Joe Lovano on tenor. have the complete dvd if anyones interested

[@BloodBrotherenGames]

bill gargaro Hey I would love to have that DVD if you still have it

[@pompel2pilt]

Jeee! From Norway.

[@albertkuo5032]

Very interested!

[@BRATRAMUNTAS_PARAPUNTAS]

Bill... Hey man. Super interested😊 much love👌💯🎶❤️🌍

[@loucalifano1002]

Yes!!

[@proyectoacustico4382]

Maravilloso!!!!

[@ekke62]

Mel Lewis "Live in Montreux" MPS 15571 (1980) Recorded July 16, 1980 at Montreux Jazz Festival The arrangement is by Bob Mintzer

[@blue47er]

And what a beautiful, multi-layered arrangement it is too!

[@cccustommusic]

I own this chart and have yet to really have a band good enough to do it justice.

[@BloodBrotherenGames]

Could you send me the pdf to it by any chance?

[@grahamm3139]

damn I love that alto solo! What a master!

[@mattalpweg]

T 8x12", 9x13", 16x16", BD 16x20", SD 51/2x14", batter side all calf skin, that periode for a short time Avedis Zildjian USA Cymbals...

[@markbridwell8972]

The "400 yr old" Turkish secret ain't so much of a secret these days .

[@JavierMartinez-yl1cm]

Que se puede decir del jazz; se ha dicho todo o casi; los grandes generos del siglo XX; nacieron en America; el tango; el bolero; la rumba y el son; el samba; candombe; conga etc etc etc; el blues y el buen rock n roll; America crisol de razas ha dado estas maravillas; a cuidarlas y desarrollarlas.

[@leocoghini6834]

3:18...sheezus

[@musicmanson]

Kenny Garret's resume was impressive before he was 30. I mean, he played with Duke's band, Mel Lewis's group and Miles. How many of us can say they've done something comparable before the age of 30?

[@pepperwilliams4428]

Kenny Garrett is one of my 5 favorite alto players. His sound is so awesome. BTW, #1 is Cannonball Adderly

[@CaptainCreature]

Pepper Williams Kenny Garnett is the man...that's a fact

[@themightyquinn94]

Don't forget Phil Woods!!

[@terryadler5975]

Quinn Parker Ritchie Cole would have turned this one inside out!

[@terryadler5975]

CaptainCreature

[@src9691]

Cannonball, Woods, Garrett, Oatts. I really cannot think of any other alto players who carry the individual, unique intensity any of these 4 do with their pure sound alone.

[@steviemusic1]

Bob Mintzer. Taken from Live At The Smithsonian. An hour of superb writing and playing!

[@dhhxeno]

Love Bob Mintzer's band, Bobby Malach sounds great!

[@jeancourtioux1311]

Ce chef d'œuvre de Herbie Hancock est magnifié par la plume de Bob Mintzer, pour le Mel Lewis Big band, à Montreux en 1980

[@ArthurHolloway-f1l]

This reminds me of when I was playing in the jazz bands at Roosevelt University & Chicago State University.

[@MarkR1957]

@JROB1989 Yes it is Tom Harrell. I have this DVD and the whole set is superb - as usual ~

[@sherriemorris5486]

BEAUTIFUL

[@dimitriskaraganis]

Kenny !!!

[@jazzjanne1]

Sounds very Good!

[@kocn53]

It's a Herbie Hancock composition that originally came out on his "Maiden Voyage" LP in quintet form in 1965. It's a great track but of course not a big band number. It's on YT.

[@rowintettero1255]

But it is, listen to this video again

[@Ronnybengt]

love

[@ArthurHolloway-f1l]

Brother Garrett tears it up.Great arrangement of Herbie Hancock's composition.

[@frankdambra]

SO GOOD

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Encore!

[@PatRick-sk7us]

That's Joe Lovano; jazz tenor. Gary Pribeck, 2nd tenor

[@robbosma9608]

Does anyone have the personnel listing for entire band on this recording?

[@schneids02]

Swings so hard

[@steviemusic1]

Horn is Stephanie Fauber

[@tedwilsonjr]

Jim McNeely on piano?

[@Gemashke]

Yes!

[@jimbrown1559]

Mel was one of the very best of the big band drummers (and was great with small groups), but he was neither a composer or arranger. The trombone soloist is John Mosca, who has been on the band for many years and has fronted it since Mel died. The pianist is Jim McNeely, who has done a lot of writing for the band. I don't recognize Lovano on this band.

[@markbridwell8972]

first heard of McNeely when he was part of Ted Curson's group @ a Newport J F performance, early 80's. Terry Gibbs tagged Mel to be drummer on his early big band groups too. Before the "Dreamband" - ie. "Launching A New Sound in Music" - what a great group. Mercury records.

[@nkushani]

Tom Harrell is on 2nd tp so this may be at 1981.

[@luisbonilla8291]

Third Trumpet

[@jl15246]

Is that Lovano on 1st tenor? Killin band...beautiful solo

[@jl15246]

Woooo Kenny!

[@Dana_Danarosana]

John Mosca's solo is beyond genius!!

[@SteenHolm134]

Peter Erskine on tenor sax...

[@docsaxman]

Thad Jones wrote most of the charts for the band. This chart was written by Bob Mintzer. I don't know of any charts that Mel Lewis wrote.

[@ellenseeling]

yup it's dickie oatts

[@BKrystall]

A very young joe lovano. Joe is a monster.

[@trane1959]

@JROB1989 yup

[@dandiacal]

Yes it is indeed Bob Mintzer .

[@Sprongles95]

@katella12 = widest beat ever.. I miss Dennis

[@d_hope_99]

5:51

[@mrrockybass]

That Kenny Garrett playing sax solo!!

[@MarkR1957]

Yes, that is Tom.

[@damable442]

Nice

[@nickcagla]

Is that Tom Harrell on 2nd trumpet or just a look like?

[@michaeldenisocallaghan8849]

I think it's Tom but I was wondering the same thing

[@nadialisax]

I need music score. Somebody have?..

[@TheMatthew5252]

Is that Tom Warrenton on the bass? From Buddy's band?

[@bigswingface5847]

Dennis Irwin.

[@katella12]

Dennis Irwin on bass

[@Leedysgladstones]

Anyone know what sizes Mel's slingerlands were?

[@rdangelo]

Bob Mintzer chart, not Thad's.

[@erikheddergott5514]

Where IS Steve Coleman?

[@elrabbimusic]

Hey Bob, is there a full recording of this concert?

[@thebreathalyzer]

There's a record Mel Lewis Plays the Music of Herbie Hancock. On the album, it's actually Dick Oatts. the album was recorded at Montreaux. GREAT record and it's on iTunes now. was out of print for a LONG time

[@coltoniusmaximus]

it's kenny on 2nd. but Oatts is the man

[@jrobinsondrums]

It's not the same recording but it is the same tune

[@thebreathalyzer]

@@jrobinsondrums Interesting to hear how Kenny plays it versus Dick Oatts. Both such wonderful saxophonists.

[@jeancourtioux1311]

Yes I have the original LP with all arrangements by Mintzer on themes by Hancock; it's too marvellous

[@osborl12]

Jazz French Horn!

[@jiyujizai]

🌱💙😀

[@lisesruneland]

AAAAAWWWW

[@caniplaydrumsforyou]

The lick refers to a certain lick that has been play a billion times by just about everyone. bah-dah dah-dah doo de daaaa.

[@saxmanbrad]

Anyone know who is on 2nd tenor?

[@bzalto]

Sonny Stitt and Charlie parker have never been surpassed when it comes to sound. No living player even comes close.

[@tomgrosemusic]

bzalto When one writes the book one's voice becomes definitive

[@bzalto]

For sure, and that is precisely why I love the originators so much. I like lots of meat in the sound.

[@src9691]

And the "best" car is still the Model A! Fact is, though, that neither of those guys grew up in the pop and post-bop culture that Garrett did, so can't bring his hipper sound and rhythmic ideas to the playground. It's like stating that Biederbeck must be honored first and foremost when Brecker is standing in front of you.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Why such orchestral greatness of yesteryear has had to be taken away from Planet Earth?

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Who is the alto saxophone soloist? Kenny Garrett - by physical appearance? Dude can play! Were I he ...Oh, happy day!

[@bennybrewer2066]

+wyndhl eodumegwu They're still here! Not gone yet!

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

+Benny Brewer Thank you, Benny; I wish that they, as physical human beings, will never go - if it were possible. The Mel Lewis Big Band Jazz Orchestra to which I have really made reference, is it still active as a Unit with that great sound? I have recently seen a couple of active players from the MLJazz Orchestra leading their individual 'tet.

[@bennybrewer2066]

Yeah they still play at the Village Vanguard every week, they're called the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra now, but it's the same band. A few of the players in this video are still in it too. One of the trombone players is I know, not sure about the others.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

+Benny Brewer Thanks again, my friend. I have therefore been happily hearing the group on a couple of occasions without realizing that it has been principally a name change.

[@Scabera153]

could you send it me? thanks i love this band:D

[@jfxpals108]

Is that Joe Lovano?

[@dafontenot]

I don't get it. Can you be more specific?

[@taylorherron563]

Bob Mintzer

[@jocknarn3225]

My favourite modern jazz orchestra! Wait ... is that Kenny Garrett?

[@Stefan-rk6vl]

How come there's two bass bones?

[@DerekKWatson]

Tom Harrell standin in the back

[@ajbfwb]

Yeah, I always wondered if it was extra tough for him to work in a large ensemble.

[@rmoraespinto]

Kenny Garrett show no alto, assim como o solista do trombone.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Encore! And as we all know the song was written by Herbie Hancock.

[@Alpacafarmer109]

nice glasses horn player

[@saxmac]

Gary Priback

[@jeancourtioux1311]

C'est un arrangement de Bob Mintzer

[@AlexanderIoakimMusic]

@deathinthewind Bob Mintzer :)

[@markviman]

3:38 The Lick!!!

[@jrobinsondrums]

And again at 4:06

[@jrobinsondrums]

And another one at 4:10

[@timeisnow4116]

😎 more like a lil tease really lol

[@drnrqsldch]

guys come on, the rule for the lick is that it has to be the 7 right notes hahahaha

[@drnrqsldch]

almost lick is too easy to find everywhere so I don't count it

[@DerekKWatson]

and randy brecker??

[@SuperMrbassman1]

What year is this ?

[@jeancourtioux1311]

1980 MontreuxJazz Festival