While researching a piece on pianist Pete Jolly for my recently published Jazz Piano A Reader Volume 3, I came across a reference to this obscure recording that features some tracks arranged by Dick Grove, whom I like to refer to as the West Coast Gil Evans. Thank goodness a Jazz buddy sent me the music files one of which you can hear on this YouTube.
“Dick Grove has an extraordinary flair for color and a variety of timbres in his orchestrations. By using a cluster type of voicing, Grove achieves special moments of rich orchestral texture which are skillfully interwoven with statements from the soloist. The sound of muted trombones that is actually played by four open horns, with a flugelhorn on top, two tenor trombones and a bass trombone is just one of his devices. Various other tonal colors are achieved by using the flute doubling the lead an octave higher, putting woodwinds above the brass, and adding warmth through the use of flugelhorns….”
- Leonard Feather, insert notes to Little Bird Suite on Pacific Jazz [PJ-74]
