Search - Carl Fontana :: The Great Fontana

The Great Fontana - WHAT A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT!!!

Natalie J. Newell | Charlotte, NC USA | 06/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carl Fontana has no peers. He puts the trombone to his mouth and the most swinging, articulate, lyrical, expressive, original phrasing just flows forth from his musical genius! Simply stunning! His straight-ahead swinging technique seems as effortless as breathing. He never appears to reach for a single note or to be at a loss for "words". He shines particularly brightly on this, his own album where he is front and center playing what he wants the way he wants. Al Cohn brings to the party the consummate lyricism of his tenor sax - the perfect complement to Fontana. They have the support of a superb rhythm section: Richard Wyands, piano; Ray Drummond, bass; Akira Tana, drums. This album flat out cooks, in the most gorgeous and elegant manner. Every cut is fantastic, from bop to ballads - they all swing to their core. My favorite is which ever one I am listening to at any given moment, but I think the most amazing is "It Might As Well Be Spring" - all Fontana for umpty-dozen choruses, each one hotter than the one before; he relinquishes the floor to the piano for a few choruses - probably to keep the trombone from melting down - then comes roaring back with an a cappella solo that curls my toes; the rhythm section rejoins him to take it out. A big surprise is the swinging rendition of "America the Beautiful" set to a Latin rhythm. That and several other cuts that did not appear on the original LP release, are incredible bonuses on this phenomenal album that ranks as one of my all-time favorites! FONTANA CAN PLAY THAT SACKBUT!!!"

The Great Fontana lives up to its name

Natalie J. Newell | 04/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carl Fontana is the personnification of "Jazz Artist". I have heard him many times live in Las Vegas where I lived for 18 years and every time was no less than a thrill for me. I've played trombone for almost 40 years and can truly appreciate Carl's blinding speed and musicianship which is so finely honed and crafted that it always sounds easy for him. The man behind the horn, Carl Fontana is a fine gentleman and a man of character and integrity. He is friendly, non-critical, has a great sense of humor and is a man who never "acts" as though he is the greatest in the world even though he is the greatest. This CD is worth at least twice the price to me. Carl is an inspiration to musicians and non-musicians alike. There are some wonderful cuts on this CD. Hey, Carl, thanks for the music!!Chuck"

Other Great Fontana Work

J. Gardner | Lake Charles LA | 03/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This guy's "the man" in the trombone world. This CD is a must for anyone trying to understand what a trombone can and should sound like. Bill Watrous, though awesome in his own way, doesn't come close to Fontana. If you like this CD, check out the group SuperSax, CD The Joy of Sax. The cut "Salt Peanuts" is Fontana smoke and smoothness at it finest."