In 1993, when he must have been quite young, Andy Farber met legendary vocalese originator Jon Hendricks and began a long collaboration that included writing arrangements for him. He would go on to arrange for everyone from Lee Konitz to Vanessa Williams and Willie Nelson. Farber has also played an important part in Jazz at Lincoln Center, touring with the group and serving as guest conductor. He has also led and arranged for other jazz orchestras and serves on the faculty at Juilliard. His own Andy Farber Orchestra, heard on this album, backed Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga on their PBS special.
Early Blue Evening is his fourth release as a leader and second leading a big band, a full 17 pieces. In addition to Farber on saxophones the band includes five reeds, five trumpets, three trombones, and a piano, bass, guitar, and drum rhythm section. The group had extensive experience as a live unit before hitting the studio. The Farber Orchestra was the band for the Ellington era Cotton Club-themed musical After Midnight, and those 300 performances created a lasting cohesion. While there is a strong Ellingtonian feel to the music, nine of the eleven tracks are Farber’s own originals, and many have an easy going later Basie band flavor. The music is breezily soulful, not academic. The solos are down right bluesy rather than showy. I regretfully cannot list everyone but soloists for each title
