Augie Haas is best known as a well-respected trumpeter, educator and composer. His most recent recording, Dream A Little Dream, is a change of pace. It balances jazz and doo-wop standards, featuring eight vocal tracks and three instrumentals. Haas displays an impressive range on trumpet as well as an effective voice that does justice to the lyrics that he interprets.
Joined by a 15-piece string section directed and arranged by Andrew Neesley, and a rhythm section that includes pianist Carmen Staaf, Augie Haas clearly had fun performing some of his favorite songs.
Among the set's highlights are "Dream A Little Dream," the swing era standard "Goody Goody," a rich version of "Georgia On My Mind," "I Only Have Eyes For You," and a sweetly sung "Earth Angel." Also included is a mellow instrumental version of "Blackbird" (which has some prominent piano from Staaf), a soulful "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," "Stand By Me," "Ooh Child," "Stay," and a surprising version of "Love Me Tender" that becomes a medium-tempo romp.
Augie Haas was born and raised in Milwaukee, earning degrees from
Roosevelt University's
Chicago College of the Performing Arts and the University of Miami's Frost School of Music Conservatory. Since settling in New York, he has been part of many big bands including those of
Harry Connick Jr. Maria Schneider and Ryan Truesdell (the Gil Evans Project) plus the
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the
Birdland Big Band. He has also worked with the orchestras of many Broadway shows. Haas has recorded with Schneider, Truesdell, the Frank Derrick orchestra, the South Nine Ensemble, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra in a trumpet summit in which he was joined by seven other trumpeters (including Wayne Bergeron,
Brian Lynch and Greg Gisbert), and the John Vanore Orchestra.
In addition, Augie Haas has now led six albums for his Playtime Music label (The Llama, Doing It Augie Style, Baby Jazz, Endless, Have We Met plus Dream A Little Dream) and written the influential book Build Your Range for both trumpet and trombone.
The release of Dream A Little Dream casts new light on Augie Haas as an appealing singer in addition to his impressive trumpet playing and will appeal to a wide audience.
Tracks:
Dream a Little Dream of Me - 4:17
Blackbird - 3:31
Goody Goody - 2:32
Georgia on My Mind - 5:04
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - 3:27
I Only Have Eyes For You - 3:57
Love Me Tender - 3:04
Stand By Me - 3:55
Earth Angel - 4:32
Ooh Child - 4:37
Stay - 4:06
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