Search - Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra :: Two Seconds to Midnight

Listener's Choice

Nicholas A Page | Faber, Va United States | 01/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a jazz DJ for WTJU FM radio. Once a month, on Monday mornings I do a show called "New Month, New Music" where I play cuts from the newest jazz albums to arrive at the station. I invite people to call in and tell me if they like or dislike an album, band or artist. The phones were fairly dead for a couple of hours until I put on Alan Balock's album and played "Cottontail." The phone line lit up, the most common comment being, "That's great, who is it?" Comments came from both musicians and general listeners. The arrangements are first rate and the musicianship as well, in my opinion. Top choice for anybody who loves contemporary big bands, of which I include myself."

A New Jazz Writer Worth Paying Attention To

Robert Thurston | Woodbridge, Virginia USA | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even if I didn't know Alan Baylock from our common day job as arrangers for the Air Force Band in Washington, DC, I'd love his CD, "Two Seconds to Midnight." There's a little of everything here - the high octane of Pat Metheny's "Song for Bilbao"; the brooding beauty of "When I Fall In Love"; a tour de force take on Ellington's "Cottontail" - all of it orchestrated with a virtuosity equal to that of the instrumentalists who play it. A trumpeter, Baylock himself does not perform on this set, but he writes like someone who does, taking liberties with melody, harmony, form and groove, making every tune his own while giving his players plenty of room to contribute.



Virtually everyone in the band gets at least one moment in the spotlight. Guitarist Shawn Purcell pulls off an impressive mood swing: he snarls and rips through the Kenton-esque funk-rock title tune (a Baylock original), flooring his wah-wah and cranking the distortion to 11; two tracks later he's bopping nimbly through Jerry Bergonzi's "Out House." Tenor saxophonists Jeff Antoniuk and Tyler Kuebler duel fiercely in a blistering treatment of Cole Porter's "Night and Day." Tim Leahey's warm, graceful flugelhorn complements the icy colors and brittle sonorities of reeds and muted brass in "Skylark." Guest pianist Kenny Werner lends his considerable presence to "Cottontail" and "Sea Changes" (another Baylock original, this one for trio).



Baylock has been with the Air Force Band since 1996. As principal arranger for their premier jazz group, the Airmen of Note, he hones his chops regularly with the Washington, DC area's best musicians. It's a happy coincidence that his moonlighting gig is pretty much the same as his day job, and it makes "Two Seconds to Midnight" all the more polished and impressive. If you enjoy contemporary big band jazz, you'll love this CD."

Don't miss this one

David Lewis | Williamsburg, PA | 12/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Extremely hot band and excellent, creative, innovative arranging.

Of special interest is the arrangement of Cottontail - the piano intro, three short bursts of "jungle music", solos by all of Ben Webster's progeny from small to big (solos from soprano, alto, baritone, and tenor sax), imaginative handing of the head of the piece, and a fake ending followed by a free-form unaccompanied piano solo. Literally something for every jazz afficionado on this disc. Highly recommended."