...a hard-hitting big band set that satisfies as it soars, offering a serious high.
With a startling, swinging "We're Back, Baby!," trombonist, composer & arranger Ben Patterson boldly opens up the companion album to 2024's acclaimed Groove Junkies. His Washington, DC-based band of longtime colleagues maintain their turn-on-a-dime precision and penchant for fire and surprise, but while Groove celebrated the funk of the Brecker Brothers and Tower of Power, Mad Scientist Music delivers an expansive display of the state of the art in large ensemble composing and performance, brilliantly balancing sophistication with accessibility.
"...never predictable or repetitive...The performances are consistently high-powered and often explosive, making this outing by the Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra quite memorable." L.A. Jazz Scene
Track Listing:
1 We're Back, Baby! 6:37
Shawn Purcell (gtr), Luke Brandon (trpt)
2 The Misinformation Age 8:50
Chris Ziemba (pno), Mike Cemprola (alto)
Fran Vielma (tamboras de fulia), Todd Harrison (dms)
3 Always 6:12
Doug Morgan (bari)
4 The Mixup 7:32
Kevin Cerovich (trb), Alec Aldred & Luke Brandon (trpt),
Tedd Baker & Xavier Perez (tenor)
5 Anne Marie 5:20
Ben Patterson (trb)
6 Just 'Cuz 6:27
Alec Aldred (trpt), Mike Cemprola (alto),
Ben Patterson (trb), Todd Harrison (dms)
All Compositions & Arrangements by Ben Patterson
Pro Jazz Charts (ASCAP)
Performers:
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra is:
Antonio Orta - alto & soprano sax
Mike Cemprola - alto sax, flute, clarinet
Tedd Baker - tenor sax
Xavier Perez - tenor sax
Doug Morgan - bari sax, bass clarinet
Bill Mulligan - flute (3), clarinet (2)
Brian MacDonald - lead trumpet
Kevin Burns - trumpet (lead on 4 & 6)
Luke Brandon - trumpet
Alec Aldred - trumpet
Ben Patterson - lead trombone
Kevin Cerovich - trombone
Dave Perkel - trombone
Ben Polk - bass trombone
Shawn Purcell - guitar
Chris Ziemba - piano
Paul Henry - bass
Todd Harrison - drums, percussion
Fran Vielma - congas, tamboras de fulia, percussion (2)
Emily Davies - vocals (2)
Production Info:
Produced by Ben Patterson, Rich Sigler, & Bob Dawson
Recorded and Mixed by Bob Dawson
at BIAS Studios, Springfield, VA
Additional engineering by Brian Jacobs
Recorded November 20-21 & December 1, 2023
Mastered by Mike Monseur
at Axis Studios, Nashville, TN
Liner notes by Dan Bilawski
Cover photo by Ylanite Koppens
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Mad Scientist Music
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
Barely has the coffee settled on the desk, the CD slipped into the player, my eyes still heavy with sleep, rain drumming against the window, silence enveloping the room—when the first notes of "We're Back, Baby!" explode into the air. Wow! It's a blast! Rarely have I heard a group so electrifying, especially within such a complex musical architec ...
