Keeping The Big Band Alive

Mark Hix And His Big Band
With Meloney Collins
Tonight Sept. 19 8 PM
Steamers Jazz Cafe
Fullerton, CA

Trumpeter Mark Hix’s big band performs regularly at Steamers on Monday evenings each month. Mondays have been big band nights now for a number of years. Last June was my first night to hear this very good sounding 17-piece ensemble. These musicians are all professional and show high quality in their playing.

Hix did all the emcee duties, giving a little history of each selection as well as naming the members performing. The band members: Trumpets―Mark Hix (Disneyland), Matt Fronke (Disneyland), Jeff Jarvis (CEO Kendor Music), Brian Mantz, Joe Badaczewski (Disney All American Band); Alto saxes―Steve Alaniz, Ernie DelFante; Tenor saxes― Alan Palmer (ex-Disneyland), Vince Hizon; Bari sax―Brian Williams (Disneyland); Trombones―Alex Henderson (Big VooDoo Daddy), George McMullin, Mike Briones; Bass Trombone―Tom Griffith; Piano―Mike Saul; Drums―Roger Brooks; Bass―Nick Schaadt.

Their music had a good mix of standards, jazz gems and some Latin flavored numbers. They began with a nice moving tune titled “Wind Machine,” written for the Buddy Rich Band and with fine tenor solos by Palmer and Hizon. Featured next was trumpet man Jarvis and pianist Saul in a Don Schamber arrangement of “Time After Time.” These guys all play from the heart. “Autumn Leaves,” big band style, followed, arranged by Gary Carney. A trombone solo with smooth delivery by McMullin gave it a nice jazz lift. Other numbers: “Manteca” (arranged by Mike Tomaro) in its famous Latin style, a true standout with solos from Alaniz (alto sax), Henderson (trombone), Badaczewski and Mantz (trumpets) and Palmer (tenor); “Freckle Face,” a favorite of Hix, written by Count Basie, with a grooved solo by Fronke; and “Got a Lot of Livin’ to Do” with exemplary trumpet solos by Jarvis and Alaniz. The band, as a tight ensemble, backed all its solo players unbelievably well.

Closing the first set was the classic, “I Remember Clifford” (arranged by Roger Meyers), trumpet solo again by Mantz, followed by “Pete’s Treat” (composed and arranged by Schamber), with a great bari-sax solo by Williams. The final tune was “Groovin’ Hard” (Buddy Rich band, arranged by Don Menza) with a lively tenor solo by Hizon. The audience enjoyed the music, giving applause for each soloist through the gig.

I hadn’t been to a Monday night big band at Steamers for a while but this evening filled the club for the most part and kept everyone entertained to the max.

By Glenn A Mitchell
Mr. Mitchell writes for LA Jazz Scene