American
singer Angela O'Neill is always swinging and founded the octet
Outrageous8 in 2015. That band consists of top studio musicians, who
really know what swing is. This is also their third release, which shows them in an adventurous, ambitious mood after 2 years of isolation due to Covid-19. The members of Outrageous8 are all veterans of the Los Angeles jazz and big band scene.
O'Neill says she wanted to capture the pent-up emotions and frustrations of the pandemic on this album. The title refers to the recordings of the music in the garden of singer Al Timss. That music and the vaccinations were the green light to be optimistic about the future.
Angela O'Neill can be heard above the band on six of the songs, including the swinging 'I've Grown Accustomed to His Face', the assertive 'Cry Me a River', 'Come Rain or Come Shine' which ends cheerfully, and on the enthusiastic 'Hallelujah I Love Him So'.
Al Timss is a guest on the exuberant 'I'm Gonna Live Till I Die', followed by the instrumental 'Now and Again'. Singer Bill A. Jones does that on the beautiful 'On a Clear Day', and Jackie Gibson is guest vocalist on the bossa nova-like 'It Might As Well Be Spring'. It closes with the blues of 'When the Sun Comes Out'.
A nice discovery that proves that there is enough talent that we do not know here. Mandatory for fans of big band music!
Website
Angela O'Neill and the Outrageous8
Tracks:
1. I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face
2. Cry Me a River
3. Come Rain or Come Shine
4. I’m Gonna Live Till I Die
5. Now and Again
6. New York Minute
7. On a Clear Day
8. Hallelujah I Love Him So
9. It Might As Well Be Spring
10. When the Sun Comes Out
Credits:
Angela O’Neill: bandleader, vocals S
Sam Morgan: tenor sax, music director
Ron Cyger: alto sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet
Rich Walker: baritone sax, flute
Paul Litteral: trumpet
Harry Smallenburg: trombone, arranger
Rocky Davis: piano, arranger
Bill Bodine: electric bass
Tony Pia: drums
Michael Rosen: harmonica (8)
Al Timss: vocals (4)
Bill A. Jones: vocals (7)
Jackie Gibson: vocals (9), backing vox (8)
William BChill Bodine: backing vox (8)
Beth Anderson: backing vox (8)
Bchill Bodine: vocal producing
William Bchill Bodine: Mixing
Bill Jackson: Mastering