Independent Music

The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra has been referred to as "A veritable who's who among the Los Angeles area's most accomplished studio and big-band artists." The leader is an accomplished arranger/composer, and the stellar, first-call musicians who comprise the orchestra enthusiastically contribute their top-flight musicianship and camaraderie to this musically adventurous, swinging all-star ensemble.

Personnel: The band's personnel includes multiple Grammy-nominated jazz artists, enjoying the talents of such luminaries of the Los Angeles jazz scene as Wayne Bergeron, Pete Christlieb, Rickey Woodard, Rick Baptist, Kim Richmond, Charlie Loper, Alex Iles, Christian Jacob, Trey Henry and others.

Recordings: The band has released two critically-praised CDs, Living in the Moment and Perspectives. Their most recent recording, Living in the Moment, hit Number 31 on JazzWeek's Jazz Chart in 2003 (with a bullet) and remained on the charts for six weeks. The band's albums can be heard on some 135 radio stations nationwide, as well as abroad.

Live Appearances: The band has played to enthusiastic receptions and well-received press reviews at such Los Angeles jazz venues as the Jazz Bakery and Catalina Bar & Grill.

Project Currently in the Works: The band is working on a new collaborative album, featuring a "front line" of jazz legends Bill Watrous (trombone) and Pete Christlieb (tenor sax) backed by the band, with tunes hand-picked by Watrous and Christlieb and arrangements written specially for this project by leader Gary Urwin. Trumpet legend Bobby Shew also plays a significant role in covering the trumpet/flugelhorn solos and in the trumpet section on the new album, which is scheduled for release in April 2006.

Reviews:

Reviews of our second CD, Living in the Moment:

* "a breathtaking follow-up session that bristles with energy, intelligence and class .... Urwin leads an all-star ensemble of Southern California's most accomplished sidemen through a wide-ranging program of striking standards and outstanding originals .... masterfully arranged every number ..." (All About Jazz.com);

* "Sublime. If that word can be used to describe a big band jazz album, it is appropriate here....Gary Urwin pens arrangements that recognize the heritage of Pete Rugolo, Sauter-Finnegan, and Gil Evans with 21st Century enhancements of daring harmony, adventurous instrumentation, and innovative musical ideas. It is difficult to isolate outstanding moments, as every track features wonderful arrangements performed with the consummate ease of these first-call studio musicians .... a delicious treat for big band fans." (International Trumpet Guild [ITG] Journal);

* "There's so much fire and color here, provided by this creative arranger/composer and his Los Angeles-based orchestra .... innovative and multi-faceted....proves that the West Coast big band tradition of Bob Florence (who participated in the liner notes), Bill Holman, Tom Kubis and others continues on with the Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra." (Jazz Review.com);

* "a dazzling showcase for [Gary's] prodigious talents, compelling evidence of which can be found on every track"; "a phalanx of world-class soloists who run hard on every play and never drop the ball." (Cadence);

* And perhaps most succinctly, in a consumer review of Living in the Moment on Amazon.com: "The best big band I've ever heard."

Reviews of our first CD, Perspectives:

* "Color this debut auspicious." (Jazz Times);

* "A veritable who's who among the Los Angeles area's most accomplished studio and big-band artists." (Cadence);

* "Novel scoring, fine driving playing and top class soloing all make for an excellent issue in the big band genre." (Jazz Journal International);

* "Just when you think that you have heard just about everything a big band can offer, along comes a Gary Urwin with a few fresh ideas to reinvigorate one's interest. I guess that's why big band music is not likely to ever die." (All About Jazz.com);

History/Bio:

The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra came into being as a "recording band" in 1997, with hand-picked, first rate payers with whom the leader Gary Urwin had been associated over the years as an arranger and trumpet player. With the active support of Business Manager and co-producer Pat Longo, the Orchestra began work on their first CD (Perspectives), which debuted on Sea Breeze Records. Word of mouth spread quickly, and the band's activities grew into enthusiastically-received live appearances, a follow up CD (Living in the Moment) reflecting the band's development and growth, and a third CD currently in the works. The band is committed to using familiar tools in a fresh way to stretch the idiom, while always swinging and remaining true to the jazz roots of the music.

Check out the artist's website:
http://garyurwinjazz.com/

Track List:
1. Lester Leaps In
2. Theme from Chinatown
3. Girl Talk
4. Beautiful Love
5. My Foolish Heart
6. Kindred Spirits
7. Danny Boy
8. E.S.P.
9. That Old Feeling
10. My Ship
11. No More Blues
12. Iâ€™ll Be Seeing You

Suggested CDs:

Other Genres: