I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Is? by Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band and it's energetic and fun. Opening with Tower of Power's, What Is Hip? and it really moves. With aggressive drum work from Scott Neumann and Michael Aarons on guitar the onslaught begins. Jopined by Dan Levine on trombone, Jack Schatz on bass trombone, Matt Hong on alto sax (who plays up a storm), Stan Harrison on tenor sax, Frank Vacin on bari sax, Matt Owens on trumpet and Audrey Flores on French horn and punched up by Steve Count on bass and Bill Hayes on vibes and congas, this track really pumps. The Beatles She Said, She Said has an interesting arrangement like orchestrated Beatles on Zappa. Owens' trumpet work is really solid, Levine gets a real nice opportunity to shine on trombone and Harrison rips a great sax solo of his own, but the excellent drum/Xylophone work of Neumann and Hayes really give the track excellent texture. Saint Stephen/Turn On Your Love Light is a blend of Grateful Dead with again a dash of Zappa. Owens on trumpet shines on Stephen and Vacin honks on Love Light in tandem with Levine and guest on Uncle John's Band, Oz Noy on guitar and Harrison on soprano sax spice up the mix. Throw a little blues in with Freddie King's Hideaway giving Aaron's a chance to show his chops and with the deep throated sax work of Vacin and Hayes on vibes adding a bit of swing. Shifting to a meatier mix on Peter Gunn, Harrison really makes his tenor sax sing over the tight drum work of Harrison and Flores plays full on French horn. Wrapping the release is a Latin take on the Green Hornet with Owens really tonguing it out. Precise xylophone work by Hayes and light cymbal work by Neumann with Count on bass hold the bottom and flashy guitar phrasing by Aarons under a clean horn backdrop make this a perfect closer.
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