University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1
Let the Good Times Roll
Vegas Records
I sometimes grouse that a particular record sounds too much like an academic project. What I mean when I say that is that the performance is precise, all the right notes are hit, and there is little room for improvisation. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad record, I just like my jazz to be more challenging with rough edges.
Let the Good Times Roll is an excellent example of the academic jazz record. It is the work of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1, after all. It is a good big band record. The band swings and the horns soar. They perform the scores effortlessly. I keep thinking of the movie Whiplash while listening to this disc — I sure hope the instructors were more fun to work with than the guy in that movie.
Best of luck to the musicians in this ensemble as they graduate and move on to other roles.
