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Dan Bonsanti
The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands
by Jack Bowers
The music on these Islands is almost as sizzling as the summer weather in sun-drenched Miami, thanks to composer/arranger Dan Bonsanti's Florida-based, world-class The 14 Jazz Orchestra, whose fourth album provides yet another textbook lesson in the art of colorful and swinging big-band rhetoric. Bonsanti formed the ensemble as a rehearsal band in 2013, stocking it for the most part with former students at Miami's prestigious Frost School of Music to give teachers and students a forum ...
read moreDan Bonsanti and the 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"Islands" from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats. The opener, McCoy Tyner's “Man from Tanganyika" is an ultra-rhythmic grabber, offering fine solos and polyrhythmic burn. “Islands," from Mike Mainieri's pen, is a catchy, upbeat calypso with an extravagant middle section. ...
read moreDan Bonsanti: Cartoon Bebop
by Jack Bowers
The malicious coronavirus pandemic that brought most of the world to its knees in 2020 has spawned the use of several reanimated words including “virtual," whose meaning is “sort of here but not really," as in virtual video chats, conference calls, exhibits, films and even musical performances. “Virtual" has spread its tentacles into almost every walk of life including jazz, via YouTube and other creative channels. And now, it seems, to big bands as well. Cartoon Bebop, the third album ...
read moreCount Basie & Kenny Drew
by Joe Dimino
Simply becuase we love that large and needed big band sound, we begin episode 612 of Neon Jazz with Dan Bonsanti leading his group of masterful musicians with their take on the jazz. From there, we zig zag around the jazz universe to show listeners where we have been and how far we are going wtih the art form. From the new cats like Lafayette Gilchrist to the sounds of Kenny Drew. We strive to give you the audio thoughts ...
read moreThe 14 Jazz Orchestra: The Future Ain't What It Used to Be
by Jack Bowers
The Future Ain't What It Used to Be, the second album by South Florida's impressive The 14 Jazz Orchestra, is by and large like its precursor: swinging, straight-down-the-fairway big-band jazz underlined by leader Dan Bonsanti's admirable charts. As before, each of the songs was written by a blue-chip composer, from Chick Corea and Antonio Carlos Jobim to Wayne Shorter and Eliane Elias, and as before, every member of the ensemble is an alumnus of the University of Miami's well-respected Frost ...
read moreThe 14 Jazz Orchestra: Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy
by Jack Bowers
The 14 Jazz Orchestra, based in south Florida, is comprised of thirteen accomplished sidemen (all alumni of the University of Miami) and arranger / conductor Dan Bonsanti. On its debut recording, Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy, the ensemble cast its net wide to gather in compositions by Billy Strayhorn, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Charlie Parker, Chick Corea, Paul McCartney, John Scofield and Florida native Jaco Pastorius, among others, each one marshaled with rigorous care by Bonsanti. Saxophonist ...
read moreDan Bonsanti And The 14 Jazz Orchestra Release 'Cartoon Bebop' On January 15, 2021
Source:
Mouthpiece Music
There is nothing cartoonish about Cartoon Bebop, the newest release by composer/arranger Dan Bonsanti's band, The 14 Jazz Orchestra. The album is a swinging, contemporary take on jazz compositions by modern masters. This is the third release by the group, following The Future Ain't What It Used to Be (2018) and Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy (2015). The 14 Jazz Orchestra is a 13-piece jazz ensemble under the direction of arranger and producer Dan Bonsanti. The group comprises 13 outstanding ...
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