Tony Kadleck releases Sides

Trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader/educator Tony Kadleck is one of the most sought-after trumpet players on the New York City scene, and has been for some time.

He moved to NYC in 1986, following his studies at the New England Conservatory – and a stint in the trumpet section of The Buddy Rich Big Band – and his phone has been ringing ever since. For good reason; at every turn, Kadleck puts the music first, and more than takes care of business.

He graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 1989 and quickly hit the road with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Blood Sweat & Tears, and others. To say that Kadleck is a rare bird is a major understatement.

Possessing the expertise, musical acumen, phrasing, range, chops, and the desire to handle gigs as diverse as the New York Pops and The Who (for example) with straight-ahead professionalism and excellence is not common. His prowess now bears fruit on his own project, Sides (Alternate Side Records), which follows up his previous big band album, Around The Horn, and his debut as a leader, Extended Outlook.  

Somehow, Tony Kadleck found time in his bustling sideman schedule to expertly arrange nine of his favorite tunes for a star-studded big band recording featuring Kadleck’s brilliant interpretations of Herbie Hancock’s Driftin’, Joe Henderson’s Recorda-Me, Jobim’s Desafinado, Bill Withers’ Use Me, another Hancock classic, Dolphin Dance, another Joe Henderson gem, Caribbean Fire Dance, one of Joni Mitchell’s biggest hits, Both Sides, Now, Paquito D’Rivera’s One For Tom, of which Kadleck says: “Jon evokes the gorgeous sound and time feel of the great Phil Woods, and Marshall plays lines that we never knew were possible on the trombone.”

The band on Sides is a dream band for sure, and probably could only be assembled in NYC, and most likely could only be corralled by a few people on the scene, Kadleck being one of them.

Sides has taken a lifetime to make. It is a culmination of thousands of hours of erudition, developing and maintaining the physical aspects of the trumpet, harmony and theory, sessions, gigs and tours…Really, a staggering amount of passion, love, work and experience goes into what you hear coming from Tony Kadleck’s horn, and from his colleagues on this album.

You may also like...