darkprinceofjazz
Consummation is a fantastic Big Band recording by the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Orchestra, A very contemporary for 1970 sound, lightly funky arrangements, but certainly not overly commercial, Roland Hannah's Electric Piano is sprinkled throughout to give it that dated early 70's sound, and once gain, I don't consider that a negative.
It's unusual that the album starts of with a ballad,"Dedication", and it's a nice one, it threw me off some though, I thought I had put side 2 on by mistake, but even so, it is a nice ballad, with a nice Thad Jones Melody theme, "It Only Happens Every Time", "Tip Toe" and "A child is born" close out side one with some upbeat swinging numbers.
Side 2 starts off with a very funky swinger "A Hunk of Funk", Easily reminds me of something that would be in the soundtrack of a 70" Cop thriller, "Fingers" a very up beat almost straight ahead bop piece, With an "I Got Rhythm" feel, Sounds like something The Francy Boland Kenny Clarke Big Band would do, The set closes with "Consummation" Tuba and french horns counter Roland Hannah's Piano to start of the piece, Thad comes in with he Melody, then Trombone joins the french horns, then the whole band joins in to the mix, This was a nice way to close out a very high quality big band recording.
Highly recommended to fans of Big Band with a toe in the popular music of the day, and the book end ballads are nice touch.