Hamilton All Star Jazz Band - Feelin' Good (2015)

The great northern jazz collective known as the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band have released their latest LP record, “Feelin’ Good.” The album has been published as an independent release and offers 11 classic jazz tracks for an approximate total listening time of 45 minutes. A sparkling potpourri of jazz, blues, and gospel songs from one of the most distinguished and best-loved ensembles ever founded, “Feelin’ Good” by the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band is easily the most remarkable jazz LP to be released in spring of 2015.

Gershwin, Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin – these names demonstrate the caliber of music played by the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band, who celebrated their 30th anniversary as a group in 2014. “Feelin’ Good” features lead singer and soloist Candace Walkes. It is the ninth official studio production from the band.

“We mostly perform jazz standards,” writes board of directors president Dr. John Knechtel, “but we do at times perform new jazz compositions and suites written by our graduates.”

As one might infer from the word ‘graduates,’ the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band is not your everyday orchestra belting out big-band favorites. The organization has been home to nearly 1,000 young musicians in its history.

“Hamilton All Star Jazz Band is where future stars prepare for life,” Dr. Knechtel explains. “Many have gone on to lucrative careers, recording and touring with great bands and orchestras all over the world. Others have become legendary authors and arrangers of jazz and classical compositions for some of the world’s best-known artists.”

Neither have these musicians gone unrewarded for their talents and performances.

“There have been dozens of nominees and winners of Juno and Grammy Awards, as well as multiple winners of local Hamilton Music Awards,” writes Dr. Knechtel.

Based in Hamilton, ON, the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band was started 31 years ago by Dr. Russ Weil. It is one of Canada’s premier amateur big-band organizations. The Hamilton All Star Jazz Band have been regular performers at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and played for Prime Ministers, Governor Generals, and even the Queen of England. At the request of the Federal Minister of Culture they have performed at the Canadian Ambassador to France’s personal abode in France, as well as at the Juno Beach War Memorial in Normandy. The Hamilton All Star Jazz Band also headlined the spectacular performance at Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France for the 400th anniversary of the naming of the Americas by the scholars of Ste. Die.

Tracklist:

01. Sweet Georgia Brown (04:19)
02. Sway (02:33)
03. Straighten Up & Fly Right (02:37)
04. Honeysuckle Rose (02:45)
05. Summertime (05:11)
06. Manteca (06:16)
07. Climbin' Higher Mountains (02:18)
08. The Very Thought of You (02:48)
09. Deed I Do (02:32)
10. Dr. Feelgood (06:02)
11. Here's to Life (05:56)

Personnel:

Saxophones - Lauren Vrbanic, Taylor Maslin, Tim Bangma, Bryan Huck, Courtney Weavers
Trumpets - George Murga-Martinez, Mark Bissessar, Hannah Sholtz, Raphael Desilets, Matt Smith
Trombones - Matt Lockhart, Krystina MacPherson, Melody Greaves, Sadisha Galippatti
Vocalist - Carine Diverlus
Rhythm Section: Piano – Justin Golan, Bass – Jill McKenna, Guitar - Scott Taplay, Drums – Brandon Munro