Album Review: Puttin' On The Ritz from Rich Willey

Album:  Puttin' On The Ritz
Artist:  Rich Willey
Label: Boptism Music
Website: boptism.com/store

Composer, arranger, and bandleader Rich Willey leads a big band of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments through a setlist of original scores alongside jazz standards and modern jewels in the rough in his offering Puttin' on the Ritz.  Part of the recording concentrates on Willey's acumen to parlay modern tunes into big band gems, giving Frank Zappa and George Duke's blues rock melody "Uncle Remus" a sophisticated sheen balancing recurring motifs with improvised passages.

Playing the trumpet, bass trumpet, valve trombone, tuba and Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), Willey demonstrates multiple facets in his musicianship.  Sometimes jumbling the horns like in sections of "Uncle Remus" and sometimes creating ambient swells like in "Song for Janet," dedicated to his wife.  One of Willey's original works, "Holy Trinity," has multiple tiers with the strings rustling in the background as dynamic solos are performed by soprano saxophonist David Mann, guitarist Andrew Synowiec, and high trumpet notes played by Carey Deadman with the rhythm section holding the sails steady.  The elevating sonorous is spellbinding.

Another original number by Willey, "For the Grace of God," features vocalist Zeke Listenbee whose delivery of the introspective lyrics resonate an inviting tranquility. Willey's solo on the bass trumpet adds depth to the track while Paul Mutzabaugh's passages on the Rhodes piano threads silky silhouttes. Willey's reimagination of "Sweet Lorraine" by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish, ignites romantic flames pouring from his trumpet toots as the string arrangement flickers softly in the backdrop.  

Uplifting the spirit of the recording to a fun loving trot along "Hard Hearted Hannah," penned by Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, Bob Bigelow and Charles Bates, the composition is draped in swinging vamps.  Willey sings the lyrics on the track with fervor and plays the trumpet with equal ardor.  The animated verses tilt the recording to a playful gyration.

Willey's exposure to jazz was nurtured when he studied music at the US Navy School of Music and later as he attended North Texas State University where he studied jazz improvisation.  He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he earned a master’s in jazz performance/trumpet. He has taught at the University of North Carolina Asheville for twelve years and Clemson University for seven years, and continues to teach privately.  

His acumen as a bandleader, musician, and arranger is on the level of such iconic leaders as Cab Calloway and Maynard Ferguson.  His original scores place him alongside such luminaries as Cole Porter and the Gershwin brothers.  For Willey, a score that grabs the listener's attention measures its excellence, and he is quite astute at delivering arrangements that put listeners at ease.

Musicians:
Rich Willey - horns and vocals (Hard Hearted Hannah)
Paul Mutzabaugh - piano and Hammond B3 organ
Jeremy Kahn - piano
Vance Okraszewski - Latin percussion
Tom Evans - soprano saxophone and flute
Carey Deadman - trumpet and string arrangements
Wally Minko - Rhodes piano
Andrew Synowiec - guitar
Mike Pinto - guitar
Zeke Listeinbec - vocals
Joey De Leon - percussion
John Swana - EVI
Saxophones - Dan Higgins, Brian Scandon, Bob Sheppard, Sal Lorano, Jay Mason, Jim Massoth, David Mann
Trumpets - Alex Iles, Andy Martin, Steve Holman, Bill Reichenbach
Joey De Leon - percussion
Violins - Songa Lee, Josefina Vergara, Benjamin Jacobson, Natalie Leggett, Marisa Kimey, Jennifer Choi Fischer, Mark Robertson, Maya Magub, Joel Pangman, Sam Parkins, Eun Mee Ahn, Nina Evtubov, Daphne Chen, Amy Hershberger, Tamura Hatwan, Michele Richards, Catrie Kennedy, Armen Anassian, Ji Young An, Lorand Lokustta, Neel Hammond, Lucia Micarelli
Violas - Andrew Duckles, Eric Rynearson, Alma Fernandez, Karen Elaine, Carolyn Riley, Victor de Almeida
Cellos - Jacob Braun, Vanessa Freebaim-Smith, Cecilia Tsan, Dennis Karmazyn
Bass - David Stone, Trey Henry, Edwin Livingston, Matt Bissonette, Larry Kohut
Drums - Peter Erskine, Greg Bissonette, Neal Wehman, George Fludas
French Horns - Dylan Hart, Danielle Ondatta, Jeremiah Frederick, Sharon Jones
Strings conducted by Shawn Stengel
Strings - Michele Lekas, Bernado Arias, Sam Battista, Whun Kim, Mark Lekas, Kerena Moeller, Emily Nash, Kjersti Nostbakken, Eric Pidluski, Christopher Pollen, Irene Radersky, Ryan Rump, Bruno Silva, Rebecca Swan, Clara Takarabe, Emi Tanabe, Azusa Tashiro, Kristen Wiersum, Bonnie Yeager