Scodwell with Sarah Hicks, conductor, Biff Hannon, piano, Mark Pardy, drums and Kevin Thomas, bass

Scodwell, Laureano and Lazarus perform Jingle Bells - click image for larger version

ITG member Tony Scodwell was the featured soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concerts December 13 and 14, 2007. Adding a saxophone section for the traditional big band sound within the full orchestra, Scodwell brought exciting new music written for him by two outstanding trumpet playing arrangers, Everette Longstreth (Boston, Massachusetts) and Richard Wright (Las Vegas, Nevada).

Scodwell’s first piece was a Wright orchestration of Let It Snow – I’ll Be Home For Christmas, a Gus Mancuso (Las Vegas, Nevada) original arrangement, with Scodwell stating harmon muted obbligatos to the orchestra’s sustained strings and bell melody. The piece transitioned, via melody freely played by the cellos, into an up tempo I’ll Be Home For Christmas. Interesting textures with Tony leading the brass section (in derbys) on his still harmon muted trumpet before his final vocal statement echoed by the bass section.

Next up was a pure big band version of The Christmas Song. The arrangement, by Longstreth, was written for the big band in a Basie feel, trumpets deep in derbys. Nice smooth playing by Tony on the bridge before soaring over the band to the ending. Not many traditional big bands play dynamics like the Minnesota Orchestra’s brass section, and what a treat to hear them in this context.

Next for Tony was another Longstreth arrangement of O Tannenbaum, again in a Basie style. Trumpets and trombones with plungers and Tony jumping in to lead the section before once again soaring over the band popping a big fat Bb quarter note to end it.

Finishing out the first half of the program, Tony with Richard Wright’s arrangement of Jingle Bells took this traditional song to South Beach via Cuba. A very hot cubano version with the percussion section kicking on timbales, congas and assorted other Latin instruments, this along with Tony’s rhythm section of Biff Hannon on piano, Kevin Thomas on bass and Mark Pardy on drums. Tony brought Manny Laureano and Charles Lazarus down front to trade eights with him on an extended montuno. Manny was overheard saying to Tony afterwards, “That was outrageous”, before returning to the section. Oh, yeah: these legit cats can cook with the best of them!

An up-tempo waltz version of It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year gave Tony a perfect lyrical intro for Lynn Roberts. A most gifted singer, she has spent time with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Harry James. Tony and Lynn are looking forward to presenting their “Tribute to Harry James” and “Big Band Tribute” programs with orchestras across the U.S. for the coming season and beyond.

Rounding the evening out was Tony and Lynn leading the audience in a sing-along of White Christmas. Judging by orchestra and audience reaction alike to the music Tony programmed, prospects are high for more performances by these two soloists in the coming years.