MICHAEL DOHERTY’S MUSIC LOG

Rich Willey’s Boptism Big Band: “Down & Dirty” – This album features almost all original material, written by Rich Willey (the only exception being a moving rendition of “Old Folks”). If you love hearing new big band music like I do, you are going to dig this disc. This group takes big band music to some interesting places, using elements of funk at times. Highlights for me include “Dancing Hippo” and “Not So Fast!” (the latter of which implements a reggae beat). Rich Willey plays trumpet and flugelhorn, and the whole band has plenty of talent. Thomas Hooten joins them on piccolo trumpet for the album’s title track. This album was released on June 28, 2019.