UNC Jazz Press

(Level III) As recorded by Cami Thompson with Mike Vax's New Oakland Jazz Orchestra and guest artist Pete Escovedo on the CD Alternate Route (Sea Breeze Jazz SB 2102). Gershwin's classic tune floats in half-time over a brisk samba. The orchestration is lush, with lots of reharmonization and counterlines for the band. During the full chorus of tenor solo, the backgrounds (including wordless vocals) introduce what amounts to a new melody for the tune, which becomes the material for the shout chorus. After the band builds to a climax of screaming trumpets, the singer takes the tune home, and the arrangement vamps out on a sort of samba montuno, with multiple ostinati, and the singer vocalizing ad lib. The recording ends with board fade, but a concert ending is included. Vocal Key of Eb.

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ROLF JOHNSON received his training from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, after which he did a stint in the NORAD Commanders jazz orchestra, where he served as staff arranger, as well as playing the jazz trumpet chair. He also served as Composer in Residence, as well as guest conductor and trumpeter, with the Colorado Springs Chamber Music Society. Since then, he has moved to the San Francisco area, where he remains active in the jazz, Latin, and world music scenes.