Beasley's Big Band - Family Album
2003
SQ Issue:  Spring 2004, Volume 14, Issue 2

The Band:
Saxes:  Chuck Beasley, Harry Ballard, Mark Gladding, Carmin Pluntz, Jeri Zwack; Trumpets:  Stuart Lane, Mel Carter, Jens Jensen, Jason Karsten, Tim Meyer; Trombones:  J.C. Amel, Jim Hoar, Todd Sicard, Colleen Zwack; Rhythm:  Courtney Burton (vocals), Eric Edwalds (piano), Bruce Hoppe (drums), Rochelle Randy (vocals), John O’Loughlin (guitar), Maureen Williamson (bass)

“Musical Focus: Classic big band jazz, featuring tunes from 1930s-1960s. Stylistically, we try to emulate the Count Basie Orchestra. We also play tunes made famous by Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Glen Miller.  Songs we do not play: We do not play polkas and waltzes, nor do we have any "rock" music per say in our book. We have some Latin tunes, but the selection is limited.” – Website.

This band is one of my favorite live swing big bands.  They cover lots and lots of Basie, one of my favorites.  They are a talented band that do justice to the great big band era.

This CD is a great example of the talent of the band.  However, from a dancer perspective I am disappointed.  Knowing I can dance for more than three hours in a row to this band, I was hoping for more tunes fitted for swing dancing.  I find five songs out of seventeen suitable for my needs:   Bea’s Pad, Pennies from Heaven, Tangerine, Moten Swing and Basie-Straight Ahead.

There are lots of ballads on this CD.   They are all great tunes, musically, but don’t get me out on the dance floor, which is my perspective for my CD reviews.  The recording quality is good and the band has good energy throughout.  You can tell they had a good time putting this together.  However, I am certain that their focus for this project was a broader reach than just swing dancers.  It’s mass appeal should help with the success of their sales and we swing dancers can take solace with the few gems there are and look forward to their next live performance.