Almost Big Band
Encyclopedia
The Almost Big Band was a 13 piece jazz band
formed by Ernie Wilkins
in 1980 after his permanent move to Copenhagen
, Denmark
. Members included expatriate American such as Kenny Drew
and Ed Thigpen
as well as prominent Danish jazz musicians such as Jesper Thilo
and Bent Jaedig.
Mainly an arranger
, Wilkins created the band so he could write for a band of his own formation. In America the band remained underrated and overlooked.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
formed by Ernie Wilkins
Ernie Wilkins
Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. was a jazz arranger and writer who also played tenor saxophone. He might be best known for his work with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie...
in 1980 after his permanent move to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Members included expatriate American such as Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew
Kenneth Sidney "Kenny" Drew was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in New York City, New York, he first recorded with Howard McGhee in 1949, and over the next two years recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, and Dinah Washington...
and Ed Thigpen
Ed Thigpen
Edmund Leonard "Ed" Thigpen was an American jazz drummer, best-known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965...
as well as prominent Danish jazz musicians such as Jesper Thilo
Jesper Thilo
Jesper Thilo is a Danish jazz musician, mainly known as a tenor saxophonist, alto saxophonist and clarinetist. He is considered to be one of the top European straight-ahead jazz musicians of the post-1970 period...
and Bent Jaedig.
Mainly an arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, Wilkins created the band so he could write for a band of his own formation. In America the band remained underrated and overlooked.
Members
Among the key soloists are- Jesper ThiloJesper ThiloJesper Thilo is a Danish jazz musician, mainly known as a tenor saxophonist, alto saxophonist and clarinetist. He is considered to be one of the top European straight-ahead jazz musicians of the post-1970 period...
, tenor saxophone - Jens WintherJens WintherJens Winther was a Danish jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger and bandleader. He composed for and played in a long line of European big bands and other orchestras. His work includes compositions for symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and choirs...
, trumpet - Erling KronerErling KronerErling Kroner was a Danish trombonist and bandleader.Kroner was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but gained music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston during 1969–70 and 1973–74, though he played professionally as early as 1961, amongst others in Germany in the Dixieland Stompers...
, trombone - Bent JædigBent Jædig- Discography :Original albums*Bent Axen - Bent Jædig: Let's Keep The Message *Danish Jazzman *Egon Denu & Bent Jædig *Sizzlin’ Compilations*From Jædig's Galaxy - Discography :Original albums*Bent Axen - Bent Jædig: Let's Keep The Message (Danish Debut, 1960)*Danish Jazzman (Debut, 1967)*Egon Denu...
tenor saxophone - Tim HagansTim HagansTim Hagans is a jazz trumpeter and composer.He has been nominated for Grammys for Best Instrumental Composition for "Box of Cannoli" from The Avatar Session ; and Best Contemporary Jazz CD for Animation*Imagination and Re-Animation .He grew up in Dayton, Ohio...
, trumpeter - Kenny DrewKenny DrewKenneth Sidney "Kenny" Drew was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in New York City, New York, he first recorded with Howard McGhee in 1949, and over the next two years recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, and Dinah Washington...
, piano - Per Goldschmidt, baritonist
- Jesper LundgaardJesper LundgaardJesper Lundgaard is a Danish jazz bassist, bandleader, composer and recording studio. Since his debut in the mid 1970s, he has been among the most prominent bassists in Danish jazz and as a sideman he has appeared on more than 400 albums both with Danish and leading American jazz...
, bass - Ed ThigpenEd ThigpenEdmund Leonard "Ed" Thigpen was an American jazz drummer, best-known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965...
, drums
Discography
- Ernie Wilkins & the Almost Big Band (Storyville RecordsStoryville RecordsStoryville Records is a large international record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in jazz and blues music. Besides its original material, Storyville Records has licensed and reissued many vintage jazz recordings that previously appeared on such labels as Paramount Records,...
, 1980) - Almost Big Band Live (Matrix Music MarketingMatrix Music MarketingMatrix Music Marketing is a record label which releases the "In the Spotlight" series of albums. Some groups who have released under this label are:*Backstreet Boys*blink-182*Britney Spears*Christina Aguilera*Creed*Eminem*Madonna*Marilyn Manson...
, 1981) - Montreux (SteeplechaseSteeplechaseSteeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
, 1983) - On the Roll (SteepleChase RecordsSteepleChase RecordsSteepleChase Records is a jazz record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time...
, 1984)