It Is What It Is SWR Big Band, Joe Gallardo

• 1Pan Con Queso06:11
• 2It Is What It Is05:28
• 3Joy to the World06:02
• 4Cherokee04:38
• 5Danzon Azul04:39
• 6Mongo06:32
• 7To Love Is to Love You05:24
• 8Caravan06:24
• 9East L.A.04:50
• Total Runtime50:08

Info for It Is What It Is

Joe Gallardo is celebrating his 85th birthday in 2024. In the world of Latin Music, his euphonious contributions have readily let him become a legend in his own time. He could be heard inter alia in the bands led by Stan Kenton, Mel Lewis and Kai Winding, had a curious brief interim occupying the piano bench in Chet Baker’s formation, and the Mongo Santamaria album “Amenecer” that contained the title piece written by Gallardo won a Grammy in 1974 as “Best Latin Recording of the Year”. Since 1991 he starred for more than 15 years as first trombone with the NDR Bigband.

Ever since the beginnings of his work together with Luis Gasca and Mongo Santamaria, this native Texan has remained closely bonded to Latin Jazz. The NDR Bigband dedicated a retirement send-off to him with an array of his own Latin Jazz compositions in widescreen sound: “Latin Jazz Latino” from 2005 (SKP 9058) evolved into a benchmark for the big-band genre and became one of the most successful programs this orchestra ever had. With the album being presented here, “It is what it is” (SKP 9165), Joe Gallardo is now taking up this format again with a rousingly inspired late work on which the credit for all the arrangements and a large majority of the compositions goes to him. The equally authentic and fiery-hot arrangements by the trombonist who lives near Stuttgart are played splendidly by the SWR Big Band from the same region. Over decades this big band has soared into becoming a phenomenal orchestra, not only in Germany but worldwide, which was appropriately honored in 2023 with a Grammy. In his arrangements Joe Gallardo refers first and foremost to the grand Latino orchestras from the 1950s and ’60s, and offers superior renditions of the entire range exhibited by Latin American Jazz.

Alongside foot stompers such as “Pan Con Queso”, “It is what it is” or “East L.A.”, on which Gallardo leaves no doubt that he still numbers among the top-notch soloists on trombone, he breathes new life into evergreens of yore like Ray Noble’s “Cherokee” or “Caravan”, penned by none other than Duke Ellington. Long-standing members of the SWR Big Band such as Klaus Graf, Karl Farrent and Andres Maile provide audible proof just how masterfully they can perform in this genre; Matthias Erlewein or Martin Auer represent the young generation on board. Klaus-Peter Schöpfer features on guitar with his version of “the Carlos Santana sound”, and Magnus Lindgren, the current bandleader-in- residence with the SWR Big Band, contributes an appealing solo on flute. The essential rhythm-section foundation is laid down on drums, percussion and bass by the duly seasoned Guido Jöris, Rhani Krija and Decebal Badila.

SWR Big Band
Joe Gallardo, direction, trombone

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