jamie begian - press

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"Composer-guitarist Jamie Begian is out to prove that there's still quite a bit of vitality right under the radar. Although he began writing extended arrangements a decade ago, by 1999, when Begian first formed the 17-piece outfit he pilots now, it was clear he'd found his calling.

Photo by Marcy Zickerman

The contemporary lilt in Begian's compositions has as much to do with his feeling for slippery guitaristics as it does for his wish to extend the vocabulary of iconic arranger Gil Evans.

Fans of Evan's classic work will understand another of Begian's uniqueness; His horn charts play up sleek, sophisticated harmonies while remaining conscious of the kind of blues-based rhythms that move the crowd. As the composer starts up his monthly residency at El Taller, his band is poised to remind New York jazzers of something they've been missing." (K. Leander Williams, TIMEOUT NY. April 2004)

"I think of 'em as the little big band that could. Begian's charts are unpredictable yet logical. His ensemble's unity is tight enough to clarify all sorts of odd voicings. And on infectious tunes like "Big Fat Grin" (which seems a nod to Oliver Nelson), they put their swing front and center." (Jim Macnie, Village Voice. April 2004)

"You may not have heard much about this creative writer's big band, but that will change soon. He took last year's BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize for his piece "Fuzzy Math" and just recorded a CD. His writing brings to mind a melding of Gil Evans and Thad Jones, the work of someone who appreciates big band writing of the past 30 years while working to expand it's boundaries."
(Mitchell Seidel, Hot House Magazine. July 2002)

"Composer-bandleader Jamie Begian is interested in the meticulous arithmetic of musical harmony, but not so much that it gets in the way of his will to move the crowd. He'd rather put together a crack large ensemble and set them to work on, to quote one of his sputtering creations, "Fuzzy Math." And Begian is not afraid to let an electric guitar take the lead from his horn players, either. Hint: Neither was Gil Evans. "
(K. Leander Williams, TIMEOUT NY. March 2002)

"The one called "All Beans" doesn't ape Kind Of Blue, and the one called "Sorry Officer" ain't a bit apologetic - meaning this large ensemble likes to throw some curves. It also likes to radiate: the first 15 minutes of it's live disc push some of the most gorgeous post-Gil hues in recent memory."
(Jim Macnie, Village Voice. March 2000)

"...His music is wonderfully varied and complex, a rigorous encounter with the entire history of eclectic big band composition, from Brookmeyer and Gil Evans through Maria Schneider. Amid the groove and swing and the calmer orchestral colors, Begian displayed a talent for abstract sound sculpting."
(David Adler, AllAboutJazz.com - New York at Night. April 2002)

HOME CONTACT NEWS BIG BAND BIO

	"You may not have heard much about this creative writer's big band, but that will change soon. He took last year's BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize for his piece "Fuzzy Math" and just recorded a CD. His writing brings to mind a melding of Gil Evans and Thad Jones, the work of someone who appreciates big band writing of the past 30 years while working to expand it's boundaries." (Mitchell Seidel, Hot House Magazine. July 2002)
"Composer-bandleader Jamie Begian is interested in the meticulous arithmetic of musical harmony, but not so much that it gets in the way of his will to move the crowd. He'd rather put together a crack large ensemble and set them to work on, to quote one of his sputtering creations, "Fuzzy Math." And Begian is not afraid to let an electric guitar take the lead from his horn players, either. Hint: Neither was Gil Evans. " (K. Leander Williams, TIMEOUT NY. March 2002)
"The one called "All Beans" doesn't ape Kind Of Blue, and the one called "Sorry Officer" ain't a bit apologetic - meaning this large ensemble likes to throw some curves. It also likes to radiate: the first 15 minutes of it's live disc push some of the most gorgeous post-Gil hues in recent memory." (Jim Macnie, Village Voice. March 2000)
"...His music is wonderfully varied and complex, a rigorous encounter with the entire history of eclectic big band composition, from Brookmeyer and Gil Evans through Maria Schneider. Amid the groove and swing and the calmer orchestral colors, Begian displayed a talent for abstract sound sculpting." (David Adler, AllAboutJazz.com - New York at Night. April 2002)