There are some musicians who earn the label �a players player�. Individuals who possess a quality and integrity that peers look up to, not for mere bursts of blazing notes or chops, but for the perfection of their performances and the joy they bring. Such a musician is West coast based Jazz journeyman guitarist Doug MacDonald.

�I�ve simply never lost my love affair for warm notes, a good standard and striving for the best performance�, states the guitarist. In that regard, MacDonald�s musicianship evokes thoughts of such artists as Chet Baker and Sinatra, to name a few, who performed and excelled in a particular style their entire careers while keeping it fresh for their audiences time after time.

To date, MacDonald has released a prolific catalog of 15 CDs spanning configurations as a soloist, in duos, trios, quartets and big bands, and now you can total that as 16, his latest release Big Band Extravaganza out now.

1. Toluca Lake Jazz (6:18)
2. Rashomon (4:42)
3. Luces Azules (5:36)
4. Aventura En Triadas (4:21)
5. Desert Jazz (5:27)
6. Luz De Amour (4:34)
7. De Ha (5:26)
8. But Not For Me (3:51)
9. Minor Mess (4:51)
10. Ya Know Bill (4:54)

This expertly cultivated and magnificently melodious new album opens on the vibrant finger-snapper Toluca Lake Jazz and then brings us the lushly orchestrated Rashomon, the delightfully perky Luces Azules, before we then get the forthright, yet harmoniously mellow infused Aventura En Triadas and the swing-imbibed delights within Desert Jazz.

Up next is the late night, lounge-esque mood within Luz De Amour and the aptly-named, upbeat and infectious De Ha and they are in turn followed by the swingtastic hipsway of But Not Me, the album rounding out with the creepingly cautious, yet always accordant Minor Mess, closing out on the full on jazz soiree of Ya Know Bill.

Musicians:
Doug MacDonald - guitar/leader Saxophones: Kim Richmond - alto sax Alex Budman - alto sax Rickey Woodard - tenor sax Glen Berger - tenor sax Tim McKay - baritone sax Trombones: Ira Nepus Les Benedict Ivan Malespin Rich Bullock - bass trombone Trumpets: Mike Campagna - split lead Dan Fornero - split lead Aaron Janik Carl Saunders Bill Cunliffe - piano (day 1) Andy Langham - piano (day 2) Chuck Berghofer - bass Paul Kreibich - drums

Official Website

Doug MacDonald @ Facebook