Bob Mintzer releases 20th big band album

Bob Mintzer, chair of the USC Thornton Jazz Studies program, saxophonist and a respected, GRAMMY-winning bandleader, has released “Get Up!,” his twentieth big band album to date. The R&B influenced album, recorded live at the Manchester Craftsmen Guild in Pittsburgh, features four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, guitar, piano, bass and drums, including performances by faculty member Russell Ferrante on keyboard and alumni John Daversa (DMA ’09, Jazz) and Michael Davis (MM, Jazz) on trumpet.

The nine tracks on “Get Up!” include five original compositions by Mintzer, in addition to works by Wayne Shorter, the Isley brothers and David Porter/Isaac Hayes. “Using these relatively simple tunes as a springboard for harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic exploration was a real adventure, one that I had been thinking about for a long time.” says Mintzer.