Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Explained

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, or simply The Big Phat Band, is an 18-piece jazz orchestra led by Gordon Goodwin that combines the big band swing of the 1930s and 1940s with contemporary music such as funk and jazz fusion. Since its origin, the Big Phat Band has received several Grammy Awards and many Grammy nominations.

Its first album, Swingin' for the Fences, was the first recording released on DVD-Audio and the first DVD-Audio to be nominated for two Grammy Awards.^[1]

When he founded the Big Phat Band in 1999, Goodwin was working in Hollywood as a composer for Warner Brothers cartoons. His first attraction to big band music was at the age of 13 when he heard Count Basie.^[2]

Band members

Saxophones

• Eric Marienthal – 1st alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, piccolo, flute
• Sal Lozano – 2nd alto saxophone, clarinet, piccolo, flute
• Brian Scanlon – 1st tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
• Jeff Driskill – 2nd tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
• Jay Mason – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flute

Trumpets

• Wayne Bergeron – 1st trumpet
• Dan Fornero – 2nd (split lead) trumpet
• Mike Rocha – 3rd trumpet
• Dan Savant – 4th trumpet

Trombones

• Andy Martin – 1st trombone
• Charlie Morillas – 2nd trombone
• Francisco Torres – 3rd trombone
• Craig Gosnell – bass trombone

Rhythm section

• Gordon Goodwin – piano
• Will Brahm – guitar
• Kevin Axt – bass
• Ray Brinker – drums
• Joey DeLeon – percussion

Temporary players

• Dan Higgins – 1st alto saxophone (Swingin' for the Fences)
• Ray Brinker – drums
• Grant Geissman – guitar (Swingin' for the Fences, XXL, The Phat Pack, Act Your Age)
• Carl Verheyen – guitar
• Luis Conte – percussion
• Dennis Farias – 1st trumpet (Sing Sang Sung)

Previous Players

• Bernie Dresel - drums
• Bob Summers - trumpet
• Craig Ware - bass trombone
• Colin Meyer - trombone
• Alex Iles - trombone
• Willie Murillo - trumpet
• Andrew Synowick - guitar

Featured soloists

• Arturo Sandoval
• Brian McKnight
• Chick Corea
• Dave Grusin
• Dave Siebels
• David Sanborn
• Dianne Reeves
• Eddie Daniels
• James Morrison (musician)
• Johnny Mathis
• Judith Hill
• Lee Ritenour
• Marcus Miller
• Michael Brecker
• Nathan East
• Nikko Paolo Silangcruz
• Patti Austin
• Romain Guyot
• Take 6

Discography

• Swingin' for the Fences (Silverline, 2000)
• XXL (Silverline, 2003)
• The Phat Pack (Immergent, 2006)
• Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (Immergent, 2006)
• Act Your Age (Immergent, 2008)
• (PBGL, 2009)
• That's How We Roll (Telarc, 2011)
• Life in the Bubble (Telarc, 2014)
• Wrap This! (Music of Content, 2015)
• The Gordian Knot (Music of Content, 2019)
• The Reset (Music of Content, 2021)
• Raymond Scott Reimagined (Violinjazz Recordings, 2023) with Quartet San Francisco

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

• Best Instrumental Arrangement – "On Green Dolphin Street" (2014)
• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Life in the Bubble (2016)

Grammy Award nominations

• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album – XXL (2003), Act Your Age (2008)
• Best Instrumental Composition – "Hunting Wabbits", (2003), "Hit the Ground Running" (2008), "Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get off my Lawn)" (2012)
• Best Instrumental Arrangement – "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (2006), "Yo Tannenbaum" (2007), "Yesterdays" (2008), "Rhapsody in Blue" (2012), "Party Rockers" (2015)
• Best Instrumental Arrangement with Vocals – "Comes Love" with Brian McKnight and Take 6 (2003)

Other awards

• Surround Sound Award, "Best Made for Surround Sound Title", XXL (2003)

External links

• Official site
• Los Angeles Times Grammy award nominations database

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band About Gordon Goodwin. www.bigphatband.com. 28 December 2016.
2. Web site: Adams . Leah. An Interview With Jazz Musician and Big Phat Band Conductor, Gordon Goodwin. All Access Music. 28 December 2016. 4 August 2015.