New Release: What Next? from Russ Anixter and The Hippie Big Band
Release Date: August 7, 2026
Artist Website: https://russanixter.com
Orchestrator, arranger and bandleader Russ Anixter presents his second endeavor with the Hippie Big band, entitled What Next? The 11 piece ensemble of brass, woodwinds, percussion, drums, guitar, bass, along with Danny Louis on organ, and Bill Hayes on vibes, xylo and toys, creates an energetic collection. Retooling and improvising through such jazz and pop classics as Paul McCartney and John Lennon's "I Saw Her Standing There," Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia's "Shakedown Street," and a mashup of Led Zepplin's "No Quarter" with Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew," Anixter demonstrates a modern ingenuity that breathes new life into vintage material. The marching band cadence of Dr. John Creaux and Mac Rebennack's "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" is tweaked with an exotic slant while the assortment of horns pump a pulsating thrust into the bellowing swells. Hunter and Garcia's tune “Bird Song” features Erica von Kleist on piccolo, infusing an airy and shimmery voice suspended over the earthy timbres of Stan Harrison's tenor sax and Michael Aarons's guitar. Anixter's reinterpretation of Led Zepplin's "No Quarter" with Davis's "Bitches Brew" has a dreamy quality as the echoing squawks of Matt Owens's trumpet waft languidly while Hayes's tingling vibes project a glistening effect. Unarguably, the ensemble's reworking of "I Saw Her Standing There" grabs the listener from the start with its comfy grooves, sleek wails, and trickling chimes of toys. The delightful enhancements stimulate the aural senses, inciting cheerfulness. Originally from San Francisco, Anixter holds a Masters degree in Jazz/Commercial Composition from Manhattan School of Music, and a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations from California State University at Chico. His growing body of work with the Hippie Big Band is bold and energetic, embraceable by a modern generation.
Comments
Post a Comment