The Jamie Begian Big Band recently released their second CD, Big Fat Grin, a mix of modern jazz, R&B funk and improvisation. On Tuesday, July 20th they performed selections from the release for Jazz Night at the New York Baha’i Center’s John Birks Gillespie Auditorium, a wonderfully intimate and comfortable venue with great acoustics. But, as the Lilliputian stage bulges with the seventeen piece big band you wonder if the sound can be contained and appreciated within the hall walls. Not to worry, not only is the room well-designed to handle just such situations, but the band and the compositions are precise, tightly controlled and well-balanced. From a softly muted solo trombone on “Tayloration Three” to full band blasts on “Big Fat Grin” the context as well as the spirit of the music shines through. Quoting from popular culture, the hot side stayed hot and the cold side stayed cold
...MORE...
