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Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band RINGTONES Now Available for iPhone!
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For the fourth recorded edition of his Big Phat Band, Grammy-winning Gordon Goodwin in “Act Your Age” continues to display dynamic big band writing executed with complete aplomb. A bevy of guest soloists is on display in tracks by the accomplished pianists Chick Corea and Dave Grusin, vocalist Patti Austin, and guitarist Lee Ritenour, who is also the producer of the CD. In addition, Goodwin illustrates his genuine appreciation of the legacy of the enduring jazz masters in the intriguing, cutting edge re-recording by Art Tatum of “Yesterday”, which is surrounded by his modern chart of the Jerome Kern classic tune. Goodwin’s bow to the recent past is his version of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man”, dressed in brand new clothes and arranged in a shuffle rhythm. Patti Austin digs deeply into Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “September”, along with Lee Ritenour’s vigorous guitar solo. Chick Corea recreates his “Senor Mouse” with the same success as his original version, but this time he is heard in a rare big band context, riffing with The Big Phat Band. The celebrated screen composer, Dave Grusin, and his longtime musical associate Ritenour, work perfectly in tandem providing added flavor to Grusin’s composition, “Punta Del Soul”. The broad sweep of Goodwin’s impressive composing and arranging credentials are much in evidence through his originals including standouts “Hit The Ground Running”, “Act Your Age”; and “Chance Encounters”.

Running the musical garment from soul grooves to samba, to contemporary New Orleans, musically he is equally at home. But the high caliber of Goodwin’s writing demands a high caliber ensemble to play it. That is exactly what the Big Phat Band offers, in addition to featuring soloists that both understand and are in turn inspired by his writing: Alto saxophonist Eric Marienthal, tenor saxophonist Brian Scanlon, the Band’s vaunted trumpet section of Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Dan Savant, and Bob Summers, trombonist Andy Martin, and drummer Bernie Dresel. The Bonus DVD is loaded with great stuff that Gordon’s fans expect from him including videos, interviews, commentary, band bios, games, “make your own mix”, and the entire in stunning DVD quality 5.1 surround sound.

ACT YOUR AGE

TRACK LISTING:

1. Hit The Ground Running
2. Watermelon Man
3. September - featuring Patti Austin and Lee Ritenour
4. Yesterdays - featuring Art Tatum
5. Señor Mouse - featuring Chick Corea
6. Punta Del Soul - featuring Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour
7. Act Your Age
8. Chance Encounters
9. Backrow Politics
10. East Coast Envy
11. El Macho Muchacho
12. Gumbo Street

Bonus DVD includes:

o 5.1 SURROUND-SOUND VERSIONS OF ALL 12 TRACKS FROM THE CD/PHOTO GALLERY
o SOLO TRANSCRIPTIONS
o LIVE CONCERT FOOTAGE from New Hampshire 5/31/08
· “Hit The Ground Running”
· “Watermelon Man”
· “Licksmanship"
o TRACK BY TRACK COMMENTARY/PHOTO GALLERY
o A CONVERSATION WITH LEE RITENOUR, GORDON GOODWIN & DAN SAVANT/PHOTO GALLERY
o BIG PHAT JAM WINNERS from The Phat Pack online music contest
o MAKE YOUR OWN MIX of Hit The Ground Running and Gumbo Street
o ON-SCREEN LINER NOTES
o INDIVIDUAL BAND MEMBER BIOS

There is nothing like a big band in full roar. As a force of power and precision, these unique musical entities have been a vehicle of modern jazz expression for nearly a century. Today Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band carries the big band tradition into the new millennium. One of the most exciting large jazz ensembles on the planet, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band creates a contemporary, highly original sound that features Gordon’s witty, intricate and swinging compositions in a veritable grab bag of styles: swing, latin, blues, classical, rock…even an homage to Looney Tunes. They are all captured on three critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated CDs…and now a fourth.

Gordon’s uncanny ability to combine jazz excellence with any musical style is one reason his writing appeals to everyone from beboppers to headbangers. Since childhood a steady, persistent audio diet of the giants of jazz, pop, rock and funk nourished Gordo’s musical soul…and fed the well. The music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Tower of Power--among many others—has made Gordo into a writer and musician with a bold, unique vision and hard-swinging style.

The Big Phat Band is populated by the best L.A. musicians, several of whom have distinguished themselves as recording artists and soloists in the jazz field. The Big Phat Band is populated by the best L.A. musicians, several of whom have distinguished themselves as recording artists and soloists in the jazz field. On recordings and on frequent live gigs the band features Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron (also a Grammy nominee), Andy Martin, Bob Summers, and Bernie Dresel among other notables.

Gordon's music charts available from Alfred Publishing.

Big Phat Band members play Yamaha Instruments!

Here are some of the band’s most recent accomplishments:

• “XXL” released on DVD-Audio and compact disc on September 23, 2003, charting its first week and received three Grammy nominations.
• The Big Phat Band's debut album "Swingin' For The Fences" was the first commercially available DVD audio title ever released.
• "Swingin' For The Fences" was the first DVD audio title to receive Grammy nominations—and got two!
• Gordon Goodwin is a three-time Emmy Award winner an eight-time Grammy nominee, and recent winner of a 48th annual Grammy award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his arrangement of “The Incredits” from Pixar’s “The Incredibles.”
• Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band made their Hollywood Bowl debut in June 2005 as headliners in the Playboy Jazz Festival.
• The band is international! Besides wowing critics and fans in their recent week-long appearance at the famed Blue Note jazz club in Tokyo, the Big Phat Band played gigs in Canada and Hong Kong.
• “The Phat Pack” got one Grammy nomination and spent 31 weeks on the Billboard jazz charts.
• The Big Phat Band made its debut appearance on national TV on NBC's "The Other Half," hosted by Dick Clark.
• “Swingin' For The Fences" secured a prestigious spot on Air Force One's onboard entertainment system.
• The Big Phat Band has garnered excellent critical reviews and praise for its many appearances nationally and in the Los Angeles area.
• Members of the Big Phat Band have performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Madonna, Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Supertramp, Patti Austin, Brian Setzer, Paul Anka, and can be heard on many Motion Picture soundtracks including “The Incredibles,” “Get Smart,” “National Treasure: Book Of Secrets,” “Coach Carter,” “Sideways,” "The Majestic," "Analyze This," "Remember The Titans," "Gone in Sixty Seconds,” "Armageddon," "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective," "Enemy of the State" and many more.

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