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1990

Kicks and Sticks (German Record Critics' Award)

New edition 2003

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This is a really first-class German youth orchestra - a big band in the old (and many might say) best sense of the term, featuring arrangements by Bob Mintzer, Bill Holmann and Peter Herbolzheimer. The opening Now You See It announces the music's strengths in splendid style: punchy, no nonsense glissandi quickly give way to some lovely Basie-like touches of dynamic contrast before the band moves confidently into fiercely swinging top gear. Bill Ramsey and Silvia Droste contribute some more than acceptable vocals - spirited, bluesy and soulful. A fine advertisement for modern mainstream values and recommended as such with no reservations. Jazz Journal

Experienced is what this band as a whole sounds like. Their section work is remarkably professional. Credit must go to Wolfgang Diefenbach and Jiggs Whigham for choosing arrangements that fit and capitalize on this strong point of the band. The music moves in blocs and waves. Big, brawny brass parts and sweeping saxes. Cadence Magazine

This CD, Kicks and Sticks is a highlight in the West German jazz scene, the best that has come out of the new boom of young big bands to date. This success is based on orchestra leader Wolfgang Diefenbach's idea of using arrangements and compositions that have been written especially for this production. He wrote to well-known arrangers asking their help and they all co-operated for a very small fee, e.g. Rob Pronk, Peter Herbolzheimer, Manny Albam, Bill Dobbins, John Clayton, Bob Mintzer and especially Bill Holman, who used to do the arrangements for Stan Keaton and who has contributed three pieces including Make My Day. This tune initially looked like being impossible to play, but has become an especially welcomed challenge in the meantime.

The result is the best big band entertainment without any trace of dilettantism anywhere: sharp and precise harmonies, good soloists, a varied palette of styles ranging from Count Basie's compact Swing to intelligent counterpoint interweavings and all the way to the previously mentioned 'Make My Day' with its tricky changes of beat and difficult, interlocked and lively passages. In addition, there are two band vocalists with unforgettable profiles: Bill Ramsey, who still does what he loves best extremely well, namely swimming in the mainstream of jazz in the accents of a Blues Shouter, and Silvia Droste, who is most likely the best equipped female vocalist of the great new German singers. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

 

Tracklist

Featuring Silvia Droste and Bill Ramsey
Leader Wolfgang Diefenbach

1.	Now You See It	3:56
	(arr John Clayton) as - Oliver Leicht, bs - Rainer Heute
2.	Pots & Pans	5:47
	(comp & arr Bob Mintzer) ts - Peter Back
3.	It's All Right With Me	3:15
	(comp Cole Porter/Chappell, arr John Clayton) ts - Peter Back
4.	On Course	4:32
	(comp & arr Rob Pronk) afl - Wolfgang Diefenbach
5.	Falling In Love With Love	3:26
	(comp Rodgers & Hart, arr: Manny Albam) voc - Silvia Droste
6.	Vital Signs	6:17
	(comp & arr Bill Holmann) tb - Stefan Lottermann, as - Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn
7.	T-Time	6:27
	(comp & arr Bill Dobbins) g - Werner Neumann, tp - Jiggs Whigham
8.	Kicks And Sticks	2:41
	(comp & arr Frank Runhof) ts - Frank Runhof
9.	I'd Rather Be A Gambler	5:32
	(comp & arr Bill Ramsey) voc - Bill Ramsey, ts - Peter Back
10.	Make My Day	6:43
	(comp & arr Bill Holman) g - Werner Neumann, tb - Oliver Pospiech
11.	My Ship	4:23
	(comp Kurt Weill, arr Rob Pronk, text Ira Gershwin) voc - Silvia Droste
12.	Hindsight	3:51
	(arr Manny Albam) vib - Michael Lakatos
13.	In The Mode	5:29
	(comp & arr Peter Herbolzheimer) ts - Peter Back, dr - Roman Beilharz
14.	Stella By Starlight	3:29
	(comp Victor Young / Ned Washington, arr Manny Albam) p - Andy Herrmann