[TPIN] Bob Florence

[Peter Sokolowski]

His LA Times obit:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-florence20-2008may20,0,2351384.story

His first album, "Big Band 1959" is fabulous, as was his last. One of
the very greats, and, with Bill Holman, the dean of West Coast big
bands. He started out writing charts for Harry James, Louis Bellson,
Sy Zentner, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, and many singers.

Trumpeters on his recordings include John Audino, Tony Terran, Buddy
Childers, Warren Luening, Rick Baptist, George Graham, Wayne Bergeron,
Steve Huffsteter, Carl Saunders, and many others.

His recent albums show an amazing growth and individual arranger's
voice within the big-band idiom, as distinctive and original as Bill
Holman's. I recommend any of them, but "Earth" is a personal favorite,
with lots of space in particular for Carl Saunders.

Florence also worked as an arranger for singers and an accompanist to
many at the keyboard. My favorite Bob Florence charts were written for
Bobby Darin. "Hello Young Lovers" and "This Nearly Was Mine" are
stunning swing treatments of ballads with a powerful band.

I'll be playing some of his recordings Monday 5/26 8PM-11PM EST at www.wfcr.org.


--peter