2 of my favorite Big Band records are the 2 Tonight Show recordings he did in the mid-80's. Few big bands at the time (if ever) could claim the amount of practice time this band did. 5 days a week for many, many yrs on the Carson show playing behind a smorgasbord of guests! They were beyond tight!
Doc Severinsen and Ernie Watts concert tour...WOW
Last night my wife and I went to see Doc Severinsen and his band in Dubuque, IA. Doc can still crank out the tunes and hit the 'high notes' with the best of them. Ernie Watts was the saxophone soloist, along with a great band supporting them. Songs selections really showcased their talents, like 'Sing Sing Sing', 'Caravan', and 'Johnny's Theme'. Doc was at the top of his game despite being 86 years old! If you get the chance to see this great show, I highly recommend doing so.
- ...
- 9 posts total
I have always felt that Johnny Carson's retirement, and NBC's decision to retire the band as well, was a very important and unfortunate moment in music. The Tonight Show Band was one of the few (maybe only) opportunities for younger viewers to hear the amazing sound of a big band. There has been nothing else like it since, and if anyone thinks that the move has not contributed to the general decline of quality music in popular culture, they aren't looking closely enough. Unfortunate. |
Blasting?! Seriously? I understand and agree that Doc is not an introspective ballad player like a Miles or Chet Baker; in fact, he is really not a jazz player in the usual sense. Sure, he can improvise, a little, and most of his "improvised" solos are fully worked out. But, when it comes to mastery of the trumpet with control, range, pitch and tone, there have not been very many like him. Ask trumpet players in any genre and they will, almost to the man agree that, in his prime, he was one of the best. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GDPzaqCo9ok |
- 9 posts total