Montclair Women's Big Band, Ellen Seeling Director.
Oakland, California, United States
Music
Press
“The big band from Oakland featured several fine soloists...a knockout! –Larry Appelbaum, JazzTimes - JazzTimes
“The Bay Area ensemble has set an enviable standard by every measure, serving as a potent rebuke to a scene that still often marginalizes female players. With a vivid cast of musical personalities, the MWBB combines an audacious sense of swing, tight ensemble work, and inspired solos.” –Andrew Gilbert - Andrew Gilbert
“A sharp and consistently rewarding big band album, irrespective of gender....three cheers!" –Cadence Magazine - Cadence Magazine
“Under the direction of veteran trumpeter Ellen Seeling, the arrangements take full ad- vantage of the band’s expansive sound and gifted soloists.” –Mike Joyce, The Washington Post - The Washington Post
“The hard-swinging Montclair Women’s Big Band headlined the sold-out house at the 13th Annual Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Festival...the group’s CD is a blues-drenched gem that swings with dazzling aplomb.” –David Pulizzi, Jazziz Magazine - Jazziz Magazine
“When I first heard the Montclair Women’s Big Band I was thrilled, I was inspired, I was excited!!" –Melanie Berzon, Program Director, KCSM-FM - KCSM-FM
“The Montclair Women’s Big Band is one of the most formidable jazz ensembles on the West Coast. This is premium-grade big band jazz, rigorously blended for high mileage and maximum pleasure.” –Jack Bowers, All About Jazz - All About Jazz
“The record of the Montclair Women’s Big Band is very impressive! It makes me very proud to know that there are so many wonderful women players out there. I would love to have you as a guest on Piano Jazz.” –Marian McPartland - Piano Jazz
“On behalf of the GRAMMY Foundation we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks. Your performance was hailed as “pure inspiration!” –Kristen Madsen, - GRAMMY Foundation
Discography
Montclair Women's Big Band, Director Ellen Seeling
© Copyright-Pivotal Records
Record Label: Pivotal Records
2005
Photos
Bio
The Montclair Women's Big Band was founded in 1998 by veteran trumpeter and bandleader Ellen Seeling, with producer Barbara Price. Featuring a vivid cast of some of the best jazzwomen in the San Francisco Bay Area, the MWBB combines an audacious sense of swing and tight ensemble work with inspired solos. All About Jazz claims "the Montclair Women's Big Band is one of the most formidable new jazz ensembles on the West Coast....this is premium-grade big band jazz, rigorously blended for high mileage and maximum pleasure."
The MWBB cemented its status as a world-class ensemble with the release of its self-named debut CD, which was recorded at George Lucas's state-of-the-art Skywalker Sound in Marin County. Engineered by three-time Grammy winner Leslie Ann Jones, the studio's legendary scoring department manager, the recording has become a best-seller on CDBaby. Jazziz Magazine labeled the recording "a blues-drenched gem that swings with dazzling aplomb."
Director Seeling is a pioneering trumpeter who was the first woman to graduate with a degree from Indiana University's prestigious Jazz Studies Program. By the late 1970s she was well established on the New York scene as an eminently versatile player who moved seamlessly among gigs with top rock, salsa, R&B, and disco acts, and has earned three platinum RIAA record awards among her 30+ album credits. It was while performing with the progressive women's rock band Isis that she met composer/saxophonist Jean Fineberg, who became her musical collaborator, and currently serves as the big band's solo tenor and Assistant Director.
In its thirteen years, the MWBB has gained visibility through a series of high-profile gigs. The band performed for the Grammy Foundation in LA to a sold-out event "Mavericks in Music: Celebrating hte Contributions of Trailblazing Women." Major festivals have also come calling, with gigs at Washington DC's Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the San Jose Jazz Festival, among others. A favorite among social and political organizations, the band has performed for Hillary Clinton, Ron Dellums, the Human Rights Campaign, Girls Inc., and the Eden Medical Foundation. The group has also been featured on Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz," NPR's most popular syndicated show.
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