ITG 2004

Kevin Hupe, Reporter

On a very special night, the Bob Montgomery/Pete Olstad Big Band performed the final concert of the 2004 ITG Conference. After introducing the band, the group kicked off the evening with a tune called Midnight Bells. This relaxed medium swing chart featured Peter Sommer on Tenor, Greg Gisbert on trumpet, and Dave Hanson on piano.

The band continued with a hard swinging shuffle featuring Ken Walker at the beginning on a wonderful, extended unaccompanied bass solo. Soloists were Brad Goode and Greg Gisbert and also featured screaming glissandi by these two trumpet players. The concert moved right along as the band played a beautiful arrangement of Darn That Dream by the late, great composer/arranger Frank Mantooth. Next was a Bill Holman arrangement of Yesterdays featuring tenor saxophonist Peter Sommer in a ballad setting.

The next chart brought out the first guest artist of the evening, Byron Stripling. He began with a powerful cadenza to open his first tune, Tiger Rag. Stripling’s showmanship and stage presence were asserted immediately and the crowd responded to his personality and sound that filled the auditorium. Stripling continued by showing the sensitive side of his playing performing the ballad I Can’t Get Started in a quartet setting. Then he began to treat the crowd with his singing abilities performing Sweet Georgia Brown. Stripling played a rousing solo followed by a solo of Greg Gisbert’s. Stripling then sang a scat solo backed up tastefully by Gisbert and brought the tune to an exciting conclusion much appreciated by the audience’s show of applause. Byron Stripling thanked the audience and quipped that “Applause is the food that feeds our souls…” going on to say that apparently he had been getting a lot lately. He continued to banter with the audience displaying a remarkable sense of humor and wit. Stripling brought his portion of the concert to its close with the song On the Sunny Side of the Street. Lastly, he performed a Dizzy Gillespie blues tune with a scat melody and solo. The final selection for Stripling also featured Peter Sommer and Brad Goode as Stripling continued to interact with the band members and the audience. He sang and played and utterly entertained the packed auditorium.

After the intermission, the band performed Groovin’ Hard. This tune was swung hard and showed off the wonderful section work and tight ensemble playing of this fantastic band. Then the band was joined by the second guest artist of the evening, John Faddis. Faddis immediately lit up the stage with his unique combination of screaming trumpet playing coupled with the technique and emotion that mark a true master. His first selection, A Night in Tunisia, opened with Faddis playing the bridge two octaves higher than written. After presenting the melody, a surprise guest, Alan Hood joined the band for a solo. The entire trumpet section got into the act, trading solos with each other. Next in this extended version was an understated piano solo followed by Faddis soloing with bass only showing incredible dynamic contrast and range. Faddis also performed the tunes Whisper Not with the full ensemble, as well as Fiesta Mojo and West End Blues in a small group format. Throughout the evening, Faddis joked with the audience and charmed all in attendance. The concert concluded with the exciting performance of Dizzy Gillespie’s Things to Come. This tune highlighted the ensemble playing of the band and a screaming, fast solo from Faddis that electrified the crowd and brought the audience to their feet. Wow!