1115 Listening Assigment March 2023

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Nate Hoffert – Lab Band 1115 Listening Assignment 1. List the tracks on the album and indicate who is the composer for each song. If arranger credits are listed, include those as well. (4 pts) 1. Like A Child – Bob Mintzer 2. Spectrum – Bob Mintzer 3. My Romance – arr. Mintzer; Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 4. Hanky-Panky – Bob Mintzer 5. Mr. Funk – Bob Mintzer 6. Mine Is Yours – Bob Mintzer 7. Frankie’s tune – Bob Mintzer 8. The Reunion – Bob Mintzer 9. Heart of the Matter – Bob Mintzer 10. I Hear A Rhapsody – arr. Mintzer; George Fragos, Jack Baker, Dick Gasparre 11. Solo Saxophone – Bob Mintzer 12. Cowboys and Indians – Bob Mintzer 2. List the band personnel and instruments played. (4 pts) Trumpets – Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, Laurie Frink, Bob Millikan Trombones – Dave Bargeron, Bob Smith, Keith O’Quinn, Dave Taylor Saxophones – Bob Mintzer, Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin, Bob Malach, Roger Rosenberg Piano – Don Grolnick, Phil Markowitz Bass – Lincoln Goines Drums – Peter Erskine, John Riley Congas – Frankie Malabe 3. Of the band leader(s)’ career accomplishments, what do you find as notable or particularly interesting and why? Where does this album fall within his/her career(s)? (8 pts) The Spectrum album was released in 1988. However, one of his most interesting accomplishments in my opinion is his long-standing association with the Yellowjackets, a Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion group with whom he has performed and recorded since the 1990s. 4. What was the album’s recording date? What are 3 notable things happening in the world at or just prior to the time during which the album was recorded? Was the music designed to make a social-political statement? Why or why not? (12 pts) This album was recorded on January 4 th and 5 th , 1998, and was released later that month. In the late 1980s, the AIDS epidemic was raging across the United States, and the Reagan administration was relatively unresponsive to the thousands of deaths occurring. The USSR was also about to fall (marking the end of the Cold War), leading to the liberation of thousands of citizens in Eastern Europe. The internet was just a couple years away, as personal computers were beginning to invade households (the Macintosh was launched in 1984). I’m not sure if the music was directly intended as a political statement, but it’s use of unique instrumental combinations and composition reflected the era of changing times.

5. Upon its release, was the album considered groundbreaking, or was it stylistically similar to other albums of the same genre and time period? (12 pts) I would say that this album was not considered artistically groundbreaking (see above). The band was still a typical jazz big band, and the album, individual charts, and presentation reflected that. However, as I said above, Mintzer was not afraid to add his unique flair of “color” to it, in which he wasn’t alone with other artists who were also seeking out a “refreshed” sound. 6. Find one solo played on your instrument and describe it in detail. Discuss the solo construction and styling that makes it unique to the performance. If your instrument is not represented amongst the solos, choose any solo instrument. (12 pts) Mintzer's solo in "Heart of the Matter" is performed on the tenor saxophone. The solo begins with a simple phrase, which gradually builds in intensity and complexity. Mintzer makes effective use of dynamic contrasts, moving between soft, subtle phrases and powerful bursts of sound, creating a sense of drama. He flows easily between scales (including a few chromatic notes to embellish the solo) and makes use of call-and-response phrasing with brief melodic ideas being repeated and varied throughout the solo (i.e., ideas from the initial solo at the beginning). Personally, it’s one of my favorite solos that we have in our set this year. 7. Select one song and characterize the “comping” (accompaniment) by the pianist and/or guitarist. (Was it rhythmically active or selectively sparse? Was the approach strictly the use of chordal punctuations or were linear fills incorporated? How did they interact with the ensemble and soloists?) (12 pts) I’m bringing up “Heart of the Matter” again, as I’ve always liked the comping performed by the guitar, especially in the beginning after Mintzer’s initial solo. It was a little sparse, and really accented the comping by the piano. It gave a certain “dimension” to the piece, and I enjoyed it. It was generally chordal punctuations (especially in the exposed parts), but again, it gave it dimension. The guitar filled in nicely with the rest of the ensembles, especially near the end—listening to the guitar comp fill in the pieces is quite satisfying. 8. Using a different track, listen in a focused manner to the drum set playing. Describe the role played and approach taken by the drummer, as they played behind the melody, a solo, and other portions of the piece. The drum set in “Mr. Funk” set a light groove to the piece. The usage of light cymbals/high hat accented the groove set by the band, and the fills really helped the piece move along. When the drums played behind other solos, the dynamics would be appropriate to that of the soloist, and again, it accentuated the groove and kept the piece moving along. 9. Of the various tracks on this recording, which is your favorite? What musical/aesthetic elements appealed to you? (12 pts) This was a tough choice, but I’d say that “Frankie’s Tune” was my favorite. It’s a lively and upbeat, characterized by its infectious grooves and catchy melodies, which are expertly performed by Mintzer and the rest of his band. From the opening notes, the song exudes a certain “funk/groove” energy, with the rhythm section laying down a funky, danceable beat that propels the piece forward. Mintzer’s own sax playing navigates the harmonies and complex arrangements with effortless skill and precision. The song was a delight to listen to, and I’d recommend to anyone who appreciates the vibrant, dynamic sound of contemporary jazz.

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