Episode
Matt Niess & The Capitol Bones
Song for Bilboa by Pat Metheny arr. Alan Baylock. Trombone solo- Jim McFalls. Guitar Solo-Shawn Purcell.
The Capitol Bones
Felicity & Episode
Matt Niess
Felicity & Episode from Raymond Premru's Two Pieces for Three Trombones paired together and arranged for The CapitolBones by Matt Niess
Chicago Medley
Matt Niess
Chicago Medley consisting of portions of "Make me Smile", "Free", "The Approaching Storm", and "Man vs. Man" arranged by Matt Niess for The Capitol Bones featuring Jim McFalls and Matt Niess on trombone.
In a Sentimantal Mood
Matt Niess
Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" orchestrated for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring Zach Niess on trombone and Tony Nalker on piano. Based on Michel Petrucciani's version.
Duke Ellington's Sound of Love
Matt Niess
Monk's "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" arranged by Marc Stasio.
Song for Bilbao by Pat Metheny arranged for The Capitol Bones by Alan Baylock featuring Jim McFalls on trombone and Jim McFalls on guitar.
The Beat Goes On
Matt Niess & The Capitol Bones
The Beat Goes on arranged for The Capitol Bones by Alan Baylock featuring Matt Niess on trombone and Shawn Purcell on guitar.
Single Petal of a Rose
Matt Niess & The Capitol Bones
Single Petal of a Rose by Duke Ellington from The Queen's Suite arranged for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring bass trombonist Jeff Cortazzo.
A Stan Kenton Christmas
Matt Niess & The Capitol Bones All-Brass Big Band
Here’s a generous helping of holiday cheer from the Capitol Bones Big Band that’s sure to help make anyone’s season happy and bright. Having somehow overlooked Stan Kenton’s album Merry Christmas more than forty years ago, I was delighted to learn that the DC-based Capitol Bones planned to record a new one using trumpets, mellophones and some of the original charts penned by Ralph Carmichael or Stan himself. Now that I’ve listened to the album, that delight has given way to admiration, as A Stan Kenton Christmas is even better than envisioned.
Inspired by Kenton’s earlier endeavor, the Bones are flat-out brilliant when performing eight of Carmichael’s colorful charts, Stan’s Kenton-ized version of “Adeste Fideles” and half a dozen fabulous arrangements by members of the band. As Carmichael and Kenton wrote entirely for the ensemble (their charts are relatively concise, with “Adeste Fideles” at 2:54 the longest), soloists are stage center only on the newer arrangements. Trombonist Jay Gibble is featured on Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” (arranged by Jim Roberts), trumpeter Graham Breedlove on Bob Wells / Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song” (arranged by trombonist Matt Niess), Niess and mellophonist Terry Bingham on “Greensleeves” (arranged by Niess), Breedlove, trumpeter Craig Fraedrich and trombonist Jim McFalls on “My Favorite Things” (also arranged by Niess). McFalls, Fraedrich and drummer Steve Fidyk add the solo firepower on “Big Bad Drummin’ Dude,” a muscular chart by Niess that deftly juxtaposes elements of “The Little Drummer Boy” with trumpeter Ray Wetzel’s familiar “Intermission Riff.” The album closes with “Away in a Manger,” neatly scored by pianist Tony Nalker (who comps marvelously throughout) as a showcase for the band’s superlative trombone section. In addition to the six ’bones (four tenor, two bass) and rhythm, the ensemble houses five trumpets (ably quarterbacked by Liesl Whitaker) and four mellophones, fairly close to the same lineup used by Kenton on Merry Christmas. ---Jack Bowers
Track Listing: Angels We Have Heard on High; O Tannenbaum; We Three Kings; Adeste Fideles; Christmas Time Is Here; Good King Wenceslas; Greensleeves; The Holly and the Ivy; My Favorite Things; O Holy Night; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; The Christmas Song; Once in Royal David
Personnel: Mark Taylor, director; Liesl Whitaker, Ken McGee, Craig Fraedrich, Graham Breedlove, Roger Rossi, trumpet; Matt Niess, Jim McFalls, Jay Gibble, Todd Baldwin, trombone; Jerry Amoury, Jeff Cortazzo, bass trombone; Gil Hoffer, Terry Bingham, James McKenzie, Rick Lee, mellophone; Tony Nalker, piano, celeste; Jim Roberts, bass; Steve Fidyk, drums; Harold Summery, percussion.
Epistrophy
Matt Niess
"Epistrophy" by Monk arranged for The Capitol Bones by Tony Nalker featuring Jay Gibble on trombone and Tony Nalker on piano
A Child is Born
Matt Niess
"A Child is Born" by Thad Jones arranged for The Capitol Bones by Tony Nalker
Conspiracy Theory
Matt Niess
"Conspiracy Theory" by Mike Tomaro arranged for The Capitol Bones featuring Matt Niess on trombone and Jim Roberts on guitar.
Stolen Moments
Matt Niess
Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson arranged by Bob Olsen featuring Jay Gibble on trombone.
Maiden Voyage
Matt Niess
"Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock arranged for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring Jim Roberts on guitar and Matt Niess on trombone.
"Touch Her Soft Lips and Part" by William Walton arranged for There Capitol Bones by Tony Nalker featuring Tony Nalker on trombone.
I Thought About You
Matt Niess
"I Thought You" arranged for The Capitol Bones featuring Jeff Cortazzo on Bass Trombone and Jim McFalls on trombone
Inner Urge
Matt Niess
"Inner Urge" by Joe Henderson arranged for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring Matt Niess on trombone and Tony Nalker on piano
Here's That Rainy Day
Matt Niess
"Here's That Rainy Day" orchestrated for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess based on the Stan Kenton arrangement
I Mean You
Matt Niess
"I Mean You" by Monk arranged for The Capitol Bones by Mike Tomaro featuring Jim Mcfalls and Matt Niess on trombone and Jim Roberts on bass.
One Note Samba
Matt Niess
"One Note Samba" arranged for The Capitol Bones by Mike Tomaro featuring Jim McFalls on trombone and Tony Nalker on piano.
My Favorite Things
Matt Niess
"My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane arranged for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring Matt Niess on trombone.
There'll Be Some Chanhges Made
Matt Niess
"There'll Be Some Changes Made" recorded by The Capitol Bones featuring Tony Nalker on piano.
Impressions
Matt Niess
"Impressions" by John Coltrane recorded by The Capitol Bones featuring Jay Gibble on trombone
The Secret Sharer
Matt Niess
"The Secret Sharer" arranged for The Capitol Bones by Conrad Herwig featuring Mat Niess on trombone
Tears In Her Eyes
Matt Niess
"Tears in Her Eyes" composed and arranged for The Capitol Bones by Mike Tomaro featuring Matt Niess on trombone.
Autumn Leaves
Matt Niess
"Autumn Leaves" arranged for The Capitol Bones by Matt Niess featuring Matt Niess on trombone.
Out on a Whim
Matt Niess
"Out on a Whim" composed and arranged for The Capitol Bones by Mike Tomaro featuring Matt Niess on trombone and Jim Roberts on guitar.
Anthropology
Matt Niess
"Anthropology" by Charlie Parker recorded by The Capitol Bones featuring Matt Niess on trombone.
It's Only a paper Moon
Matt Niess
"It's Only a paper Moon" arranged for The Capitol Bones by Jim Roberts featuring Hary Watters on trombone and Jim Roberts on bass.
Other Recordings
To The Edge
Mark Taylor
Writer and arranger Mark Taylor has a long and illustrious career with his associations to the Stan Kenton Orchestra. The whole album has a nice variety of writing from Mark Taylor and it is hard to imagine the music could have been played any better. A very enjoyable listen for fans of big band jazz; highly recommended. Can be purchased from Cdbaby.com