John La Barbera Big Band Grooveyard - Origin82878 - Jazz - by Origin Records

With his career at the highest levels of the music industry spanning a half-century, Grammy® nominated composer/arranger John La Barbera doesn't have much left to prove, so gathering a band of equals in New York City and spending some time recording his latest & best hard-swinging arrangements, makes good sense! Along with his equally storied brothers, saxophonist Pat and drummer Joe, La Barbera fills Grooveyard with jazz royalty, including Steve Wilson, Renee Rosnes, Clay Jenkins, and the legendary bassist, Rufus Reid, for a set of four arranged tunes from Brubeck, Curtis Fuller, Elvin Jones, and the title track from pianist Carl Perkins, and six of his own original compositions. Thanks to his early career in helping to define the sounds of the Buddy Rich Band, Woody Herman, Bill Watrous and so many others, La Barbera's works have become jazz big band standards, his luminous orchestrations, contrapuntal writing, and rhythmic and textural variety combining to create unforgettable musical moments.