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 A Great Progressive Big Band Album! Feb 26, 2008
Let me start off by saying this album isn't going to appeal to everyone, but if you've been listening to jazz a long time like I have and you enjoy Duke Ellington, then you're going to find that there's alot to enjoy here.
Wynton Marsalis is joined by the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, which are a very fine big band. They play the material very well. There's alot of to enjoy here. The musicians are Rodney Whitaker (bass), Herlin Riley (drums), Victor Goines (tenor and soprano saxophone), Walter Blanding Jr. (tenor and soprano saxophone), Wessell Anderson (alto saxophone), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Ronald Westray (trombone), Joe Temperley (clarinet) Walter Blanding Jr. (clarinet), Joe Temperle (baritone sax), Victor Goines (baritone sax), Victor Goines (clarinet), and Farid Barron (piano). All musicians completely realize Marsalis' musical vision on this great recording and all play exceptionally well.
I don't see this album as an attempt to recreate Ellington's music, but rather an hommage to his work. The Marsalis trademark is all over the place. If you've been following his work for long, then you will know what I'm talking about.
This is a fantastic piece of music and should be heard as a whole to be fully appreciated. I highly recommend this one!
 Marsalis tells stories-- Dec 09, 2003
Marsalis combines a story telling approach of Duke Ellington and what I call the city sound style of L. Bernstein. Bernstein put the sounds of the city into his music by using horns and percussion to create sort of a musical dissidence. Listen to much of the music on this cd and you'll hear sounds of trains as a motif throughout a ride in both metropolitan and rual parts of the country. It's a creative use of instroments to illustrate the stages of the journey and the trains themselves. I think it's well done, and worth listening to.
0 of 3 found the following review helpful:
MY GOSH IT'S GREAT Jul 19, 2002
I Love it Marsalis Gillespie Ellington miller these guys are my favorites if you want wynton marsalis get this it's great. But really what the heck is the problem with you guys writing 2 star reviews if you have a pick between this CD and another get this one and don't listen to these guys so see you later BYE!
5 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Vacuous and Vapid attempt to Recreate the Magic of Ellington Feb 14, 2002
If I want to listen to Duke Ellington I can get out my Blanton-Webster band set and listen to music that is vital, creative, and absolutely of the moment in which it was created. I absolutely do not want to hear Marsalis'pathetic attempt to re-create the Ellington band's magic at the end of the 20th century. Duke Ellington never attempted such a bland and rote re-creation of an earlier style of music and is probably rolling over in his grave at this crass attempt to channel up his timeless music. If you want to hear creative repertory music - check out the Mingus Big Band - not this drivel.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Squeaks, Squawks, Squeals and a Little Music Jun 26, 2001
Big Train is the inspiration of traveling by locomotive across the country. Each jazz-laden track is influenced by different parts of the train. The rhythm of clickitty-clack permeates throughout as well as many sounds that one would associate with a big 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. I first heard Big Train on PBS-TV. It was very interesting to watch the orchestra perform this concept. They used different mutes and techniques to get the squeal and squeaks of the train's breaks, its engines, its whistles and steam being let off. I bought the album later remembering how much I was impressed by the video. Upon listening to the album, I found the sound effects to become annoying after awhile. They could have left the squeals to the beginning and end of the album, and had more time to actually play. When they do play, the orchestra plays quite well. It is amazing to listen to so many instruments working together to produce music and not just plain old noise (although they do make a lot of noise on several occasions). There are some very good songs here like "Station Call", a great guitar solo on "Observation Car" and "Engine" with an amazing drum solo. This is where I was first introduced to trumpeter Ryan Kisor. Unfortunately, in an orchestra setting, it is nearly impossible to tell who is playing unless you can actually see them. Overall, I really like this album. I could do without the sound effects though. I don't need to hear squealing breaks to know that I'm on a train. They could have focused entirely on the rhythm and accomplished the same musical image and had a great album. If you're a fan of the Lincoln Center Orchestra and a big brassy sound, don't hesitate getting aboard the Big Train.
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