Search - Ralph Carmichael :: Big Band Gospel Classics

Swinging Gospel

AndyC | USA | 01/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ralph Carmichael connects a consumately professional big band to great arrangements, excellent recording and wonderful old gospel tunes. The result is as electrifying as it is uplifting."

Mystery Band

AndyC | 12/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hey Bob & Pat, Nice to hear from you. A "white Basie".....I like that. You are right, there are hints of Elgart Bros in sax section and the overall precision of the band is reminicent of Heath and/or N. Texas State 1:00 band. This group is truly world class. They play with great precision, passion, fire, drive, depth, blend and expression. But, more importantly, as you say, they swing like crazy....the kind of swing you not only hear, but feel in your gut. This is a lively, sensitive, happy band. Check out the attacks and releases.....the wonderful phrasing....they can be tender, sensitive, lovely, flowing and very smoooooth to powerful, biting, stinging, and screaming....all driven by a great rhythm sec. The bass is an intregal part, both laying down lines and anchoring big chords. The funky little synthesizer, I can take or leave, but it does add some interesting contrast. Note the intonation and tone quality of the sections. The Trbs are so smooth and together. Saxes can do it all. Trpts......as close to perfection as you can get. There's not a weak link in the band......and you KNOW there's a bari sax and bs trb! The charts have everything.....lots of "stuff" going on. You can hear counter lines everywhere. Little riffs, licks, slides, glisses, pyramids, cascades, flips, drops,rips, assorted bips, bops and bams......they're happening constantly. Never have a chance to get bored. Plus, you can hear new stuff with each listening. The harmonies are basic, yet complex, modern and fresh....not quite as full and dissonant as McC. This arranger could pound the keyboard with his fist and make it sound great. In fact, in some of the ensemble playing you'll hear those clusters. n.b. the end of "god rest ye merry gltlmn" a big fat hairy 9th! The dissonance is there, but it's so tasteful and well applied. The final "thing" is the engineering.....you can HEAR everything. The mics, placement, mixing, etc. are superb. Might try listening several times...it's amazing what's in there. Try it with phones....close your eyes.....you're there! Bottom line: great musicians + great charts + great recording technics = great listening! ENUFF PREACHING! Whoizit? Ralph Carmichael is the writer and leader. Who's he you say? Hes been around for 50 + yrs. He arranged the Kenton Christmas album with the mellophoniums........remember? That's the sound on the christmas album...only a little updated. Will send you some links about this guy. If you have ever watched any of those "Christian" cable channels and heard a knock-out band or chart, he probably had something to do with it. Enjoy! and Happy Holidays! Bob"

Good big band sound. brass section very good.

Gerald Kaufman | Escondido, Ca. | 09/04/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nice big band sound with very good brass section but could use some help in sax section. Arranging needs some updating."