A Weaver of Dreams by Marc Dickman

Needless to say each of Bill’s solos is magic! Bill also arranged Four Brothers and penned Something Happy. Marc Dickman said. “Bill is a great friend and a pleasure to work with. We have traveled all over the world playing in various bands and I had to include him on this CD. “

The all-star rhythm section consists of Kevin Bales, piano; Ben Tucker, bass; and Rick Kirkland, drums. Atlanta based pianist Kevin Bales’ solo on Bee-Bo shows whey he is one of the most in demand pianists in the country. His comping and improvisations show tons of sensitivity, maturity and swing. A hallmark of Kevin’s playing is the way constructs each solo by steadily increasing intensity and texture throughout each chorus.

The musicians were very honored and pleased that bass legend Ben Tucker was available for the recording. Ben resides in Savannah, Georgia after a long and fruitful career as a first call jazz bassist in LA and NYC. Not only is his playing great, he has some great stories! This also reminds me of the multi-generational aspect of jazz. Four generations of jazz musicians made this recording and they played as a cohesive swinging unit!

Rick Kirkland is a Jacksonville native and held the drum chair in Ray Charles band for several years. He leads the Rick Kirkland Orchestra, performed with the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz consort for many years, and has performed with many notable jazz legends. When Something Happy was recorded the band members failed to keep track of the form during Rick’s solo so they crashed when they were supposed play. Someone suggested that Rick play another solo so the band members could count. Rick rightly refused to play it again and urged the band to listen to the track. The players agreed that another take was not necessary because the solo was so beautiful. The solo fit the form perfectly and the engineer was able to punch in the ending!

I don’t have the space to give a description of each tune but jazz fans will enjoy the variety of mood, style and spontaneity of this debut. If you like unpretentious jazz played by a world-class band, this is the CD for you.

FOUR AND A HALF STARS!

Geoffrey Hathaway

World Jazz Magazine

April 2006

Marc Dickman is Associate Professor of jazz studies and low brass at the University of North Florida where he conducts Jazz Ensemble and tuba/euphonium choir. His versatility on euphonium, trombone, bass-trombone, and tuba in the classical and jazz styles places him in much demand in the Southeastern United States. Dr. Dickman won the Artist's Division of the International Leonard Falcone Competition in 1990. He is principal euphonium with the St. John's River City Band, and trombonist with the River City Swing Orchestra. He performed on bass-trombone with the legendary One O'Clock Lab Band while attending the University of North Texas and appears on the CD, Lab Band '95.

Dr. Dickman was a featured jazz euphonium artist at the 2000 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, the 2001 ITEC in Lahti, Finland and the 2002 ITEC in Greenville, NC. Dr. Dickman frequently appears as a soloist and clinician and in January of 2002 he conducted the Florida All-State Jazz Ensemble. Dr. Dickman is a founding member of the groundbreaking jazz ensemble, the Modern Jazz Tuba Project. The MJT Project has two critically acclaimed releases; Live From the Bottom Line, and Favorite Things. He is featured with the Swamp Dog Jazz Band on Home and Keepin' Out of Mischief Now. Dr. Dickman earned degrees from Troy State University, McNeese State University, and the University of North Texas. Dr. Marc Dickman is a YAMAHA performing artist.

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