Russ Anixter’s Hippie Big Band – What Is?

Self-released - Street date February 7, 2025
Jazz
Hippie Big Band

Russ Anixter is an unconventional character. He began his career as a music copyist in the days when the craft still required pen and ink, eventually adapting to digital music copying during the era when Macintosh computers featured tiny screens with minimal memory. For over three decades, he has been a music copyist in New York City. As a partner at Anixter Rice Music Service, he has overseen the preparation of music for a staggering array of productions, including countless Broadway shows, regional theater performances, the iconic Radio City Christmas Spectacular, live concerts, and recordings. Among his most notable projects are all Disney musicals on Broadway, Wicked, and Jersey Boys.

As for the origins of the Hippie Big Band, the full story is detailed here. What makes this big band unmistakable among a thousand others is its eclecticism. The repertoire spans jazz, New Orleans style, rock, funk, and much more. Of course, the arrangements also evoke the cinematic qualities one might expect in film music. It was during his student years that Russ began composing for big band in all its forms. He recounts: “One day, on a whim, I arranged a Jimi Hendrix song for big band. Something about that experience resonated deeply with me, and with encouragement from those around me, I went on to arrange several Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin songs for big band.”

The arrangements and rhythmic choices on this album become instantly clear when one understands the musician’s background—a quest for inventiveness reminiscent of the creative explosion of the 1970s. What’s remarkable is that Russ achieves this with great success. And for that, much credit is due to the extraordinary musicians of the Hippie Big Band, whose current lineup includes:

  • Matt Hong – Alto Sax, Flute, Piccolo, Bass Clarinet
  • Stan Harrison – Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Clarinet
  • Frank Vacin – Baritone Sax, Soprano Sax, Alto Flute
  • Matthew Owens – Trumpet and Flugelhorn
  • Audrey Flores – French Horn
  • Dan Levine – Trombone and Flugelbone
  • Jack Schatz – Bass Trombone
  • Bill Hayes – Vibraphone, Xylophone, Congas, and an array of percussion instruments
  • Michael Aarons – Guitar
  • Steve Count – Bass
  • Scott Neumann – Drums

This album is a delight, one to savor, to listen to and revisit endlessly. Its wealth of musical invention is so abundant that a single listen simply won’t suffice. One can only imagine the wild brilliance of this music performed live—it must be an unforgettable experience!

What truly makes this album a resounding success, however, is the remarkable cohesion among the musicians, who seem to revel in the surprising and inventive compositions. It’s impossible to overlook an album of this caliber, which deserves a place in our collection of “Essential Albums”.

Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News

PARIS-MOVE, January 27th 2025

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