Monstrosity!

Last updated
Monstrosity!
Monstrosity! (CSULA album).jpg
Studio album by

California State University, Los Angeles
Jazz Ensemble
Released1988
RecordedSage and Sound Recording
Hollywood, California
Genre Jazz, Big band, instrumental
Label H D C Music Publications
Producer David Caffey and Scott Ackerman

California State University, Los Angeles
Jazz Ensemble chronology
Diversions
(1987)
Monstrosity!
(1988)
It's About Time
(1990)
cat. # CSULA 888

Monstrosity! [1] is the final LP Vinyl album release by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble before recording on digital/CD format in 1990. In addition to the big band, the LP featured the CSULA Jazz Quintet [2] which won the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival Combo division for 1988. [3] Los Angeles Times jazz critic Zan Stewart gave the recording four of five stars in his May 1989 review. [4] The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals including Sharon Hirata, [5] Luis Bonilla, Jack Cooper, Charlie Richard, Corey Gemme, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Vince Dublino, Alan Parr, Paul De Castro, Alex Henderson, Gary Smith and José Arellano.

Contents

Background

In 1984 and 1985, the California State University, Los Angeles Music Department, and CSULA Associated Students decided to fund LP recordings of the jazz ensemble to better serve as a teaching tool for student music jazz groups. Monstrosity is the fourth of six albums to come from CSULA during the 1980s featuring the award-winning CSULA #1 Jazz Ensemble. [6] The LP contains tracks from the #1 CSULA Jazz Ensemble to include compositions of four students and from the director (professor David Caffey).

The qualities of the LP that set it apart from numerous university jazz records of that era is the fact it was entirely written, composed, and copied (music also professionally copied by student Sharon Hirata) [7] by the students and faculty of CSULA at a higher level than was usual of students at that time; also this being the fourth LP in a row CSULA had done this. [8] There has been a consistent tradition of musicians coming from the CSULA program who have worked with major musical acts, on major studio and movie projects, and hold positions in higher education in music. The roster on this album is self-evident as to the diversity and level of student musicians CSULA developed at that time and has for many years dating far back to musicians (graduates) such as Lennie Niehaus and Gabe Baltazar.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Monstrosity!"José Arellano5:44
2."Karen and Norman [9] " Jack Cooper 7:20
3."Evening Thoughts"José Arellano4:54
4."Tasha's Revenge"Scott Ackerman6:42
5."Samba De Linda [10] "David Caffey6:55
6."Pressing the Issue - (CSULA Jazz Quintet) - [2] " Mulgrew Miller 7:43
7."Blues for Wood" Woody Shaw, arr. Luis Bonilla 7:10
Total length:44:65

Recording sessions

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

"(Monstrosity!) finds the first-rate Cal State Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble tearing through a handful of vital originals--Jose Arellano's title track and director David Caffey's "Samba de Linda" among them and a couple of Woody Shaw cookers. Solid solos from the likes of saxophonists Sharon Hirata and Randall Willis and trombonists Luis Bonilla and Gary Smith abound..."

Zan Stewart, The Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal Tjader</span> American vibraphonist (1925–1982)

Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group modern jazz, even as he continued to perform music of Afro jazz, the Caribbean, México and Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clare Fischer</span> American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader

Douglas Clare Fischer was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University, he became the pianist and arranger for the vocal group the Hi-Lo's in the late 1950s. Fischer went on to work with Donald Byrd and Dizzy Gillespie, and became known for his Latin and bossa nova recordings in the 1960s. He composed the Latin jazz standard "Morning", and the jazz standard "Pensativa". Consistently cited by jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock as a major influence, he was nominated for eleven Grammy Awards during his lifetime, winning for his landmark album, 2+2 (1981), the first of Fischer's records to incorporate the vocal ensemble writing developed during his Hi-Lo's days into his already sizable Latin jazz discography; it was also the first recorded installment in Fischer's three-decade-long collaboration with his son Brent. Fischer was also a posthumous Grammy winner for ¡Ritmo! (2012) and for Music for Strings, Percussion and the Rest (2013).

Grant Geissman is an American jazz guitarist and Emmy-nominated composer. He has recorded extensively for several labels since 1976 and played guitar on the theme for Monk and other TV series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Wilson</span> American trumpetist

Gerald Stanley Wilson was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a band leader, Wilson wrote arrangements for Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luis Bonilla</span> American jazz trombonist

Luis Diego Bonilla is an American jazz trombonist of Costa Rican descent. He is also a producer, composer, and educator.

Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez is a Cuban drummer and percussionist. He has played alongside Latin jazz pianists such as Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michel Camilo, Chucho Valdés, Eddie Palmieri and Hilario Durán.

Zan Stewart is an American jazz writer, musician and former disc jockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of California Jazz Ensembles</span>

The University of California Jazz Ensembles, also known as the UC Jazz Ensembles, UC Jazz, or UCJE, is the student jazz organization founded in 1967 on the University of California, Berkeley, campus. Founded in 1967, it comprises one or more big bands, numerous jazz combos, a vocal jazz ensemble, an alumni big band, and instructional classes. With a mission statement to foster a community for the performance, study, and promotion of jazz at U.C. Berkeley, its Wednesday Night big band provides free concerts every Thursday noon on Lower Sproul Plaza, its various units perform throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including area high schools, travel to collegiate jazz festivals, and perform overseas, and for many years it sponsored the annual Pacific Coast Jazz Festival. It also provides master classes by its instructors and clinics by prominent guest artists. It has nurtured numerous musicians who have become professional jazz musicians and educators. UC Jazz Ensembles is one of three groups, with the Cal (marching) Band and UC Choral Ensembles, forming Student Musical Activities (SMA), a department within Cal Performances on the U.C. Berkeley campus. Its members are primarily U.C. Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students, representing many academic disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Curnow</span> American musician

Robert Harry "Bob" Curnow is an American musician who served as a trombonist, staff arranger and producer for the Stan Kenton Orchestra during the 1960s and 1970s. As a composer and arranger he has become well known for large ensemble jazz music set to contemporary fusion and rock music of groups such as Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and the Yellowjackets. Most notably he arranged the music for and produced the award-winning and critically acclaimed CD, Bob Curnow's L.A. Big Band Plays The Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. His compositions and arrangements are heavily influenced by earlier writers for the Stan Kenton Orchestra such as Pete Rugolo, Bill Russo, Johnny Richards and Bill Holman. Curnow is currently owner and President of Sierra Music Publications, Inc., he is also prominent in the instrumental music and jazz education fields.

<i>Were Back!</i> (album) 1986 studio album by California State University, Los Angeles, Jazz Ensemble

We're Back! is a 1986 album released by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble, it was the springboard for the Bob Curnow's arrangement of the Pat Metheny work The First Circle. The group proved to be one of the finest college jazz orchestras of that era with having placed in the finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata, Luis Bonilla, Phil Feather, Jack Cooper, Charlie Richard, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Mark Gutierrez, Vince Dublino, and José Arellano.

<i>Diversions</i> (album) 1987 studio album by , California State University, Los Angeles, Jazz Ensemble

Diversions is a 1987 album released by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble, it featured the Charles Richard Suite for Jazz Orchestra which was premiered by Dave Edwards earlier that year. This group proved to be one of the finest college jazz orchestras of that era with having placed in the finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The jazz band had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Sharon Hirata, Luis Bonilla, Jack Cooper, Charlie Richard, Eric "Bobo" Correa, Vince Dublino, Alan Parr, and José Arellano.

<i>The New in You</i> 1985 studio album by , California State University, Los Angeles, Jazz Ensemble

The New in You is a 1985 album by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble. It was the group's first recording under the direction of David Caffey. The group's student musicians have included Sharon Hirata, Luis Bonilla, Phil Feather, Jack Cooper, Charlie Richard, Mark Gutierrez, and Jose Arellano.

<i>Its About Time</i> (CSULA album) 1990 studio album by California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensembles

It's About Time is the first CD digital format album release by the California State University, Los Angeles Jazz Ensembles completed in 1990. In addition to two big bands (1989/1990) the CD features the CSULA Jazz Sextet. The jazz bands had numerous student musicians that have made a name for themselves as professionals to include Luis Bonilla, Jack Cooper, Corey Gemme, Alan Parr, Randall Willis, Paul De Castro, Alex Henderson, Sheffer Bruton, Ruben Ramos, and José Arellano.

<i>Unforgettable</i> (Fullerton College Jazz Band album) 1985 studio album by the, Fullerton College Jazz Band

Unforgettable is a CD released by the Fullerton College Jazz Bands and Jazz Singers for the Discovery Records Trend AM-PM label. The current #1 jazz band on this recording was the winner of the 1985 International Association for Jazz Education Disneyworld Competition and the opening band for the 1985 Playboy Jazz Festival.

<i>Soundtrack</i> (Fullerton College Jazz Band album) 1990 studio album by the, Fullerton College Jazz Band

Soundtrack is a CD released by the Fullerton College Jazz Bands and Vocal Jazz for the Discovery Records Trend AM-PM label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Cooper (American musician)</span> American composer, arranger, orchestrator, multireedist, and music educator

Jack Cooper is an American composer, arranger, orchestrator, multireedist, and music educator. He has performed with, written music for and recorded by internationally known pop, jazz, and classical artists.

<i>Upside Out</i> 2003 studio album by Riverside City College, Jazz Ensemble and combo

Upside Out is a CD by the Riverside City College Jazz Ensemble and combo; this was released in 2003 on the Sea Breeze Vista Jazz label. Critic Jack Bowers notes, "A consistently rewarding album by top-drawer college-level jazz ensemble and trio." Most notably the CD continues to receive airplay through the country due to the high level of the music on the recording.

Francisco Emilio Flynn Rodríguez, better known as Frank Emilio Flynn, was a renowned Cuban pianist. Despite being blind, he was a skilled and versatile pianist who mastered many forms of Cuban music, from danzas and danzones to filin, descarga and Afro-Cuban jazz. He was the founder and director of several ensembles, including Loquibambia (1946) and Los Modernistas (1951), both co-founded with José Antonio Méndez, as well as the Quinteto Instrumental de Música Moderna (1958), which later became Los Amigos.

Dekajaz was a 10 piece concert jazz band based in Los Angeles. The group was critically acclaimed and most notably was founded to promote under-represented female jazz artists in the Southern California region much like the group Maiden Voyage. The group had many prominent performances in Los Angeles during their existence. Their album Eclectikos was released in September 2003.

Martin Cohen is an American inventor, entrepreneur, mechanical engineer, and photographer, best known as the founder of the Latin Percussion company. He invented many percussion instruments used in the Latin, Jazz, World, for which he was awarded 8 patents. Cohen has captured and documented thousands of Latin and jazz musicians and performances through photography, videos, and audio recordings.

References

  1. All Music Guide, Monstrosity!
  2. 1 2 The CSULA Jazz Quintet 1988: Luis Bonilla (leader-trombone), Albert Balderez (trumpet), José Arellano (piano), Ruben Ramos (bass), Vinnie Dublino (drums)
  3. Monstrosity!, liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1988
  4. 1 2 3 New jazz LP reviews. Stewart, Zan. The Los Angeles Times Jazz Notes, May 10, 1989
  5. Sharon Hirata featured on tenor with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, 2008
  6. 1982 Playboy Jazz Festival winner (Playboy Jazz Festival Volume I, OCLC   16737109), 1986 finals of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, 1988 combo winner of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, special invited performances at the 1987 MENC Convention in Seattle and the 1989 IAJE Convention in San Diego
  7. Note: Sharon Hirata was paying for school tuition from income as a freelance music copyist and working on T.V. shows such as The Dukes of Hazzard and other CBS productions before the time of computer generated music engraving.
  8. Monstrosity! liner notes, Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensemble LP. 1988.
  9. Karen and Norman, UNC Jazz Press
  10. Samba De Linda, UNC Jazz Press, Listing and Sound file