Big Bull in the holiday spirit

On Wednesday night during their second set at Balliceaux, Fight the Big Bull brought out the Christmas carols. I’m a sucker for Christmas music, and a big sucker for Fight the Big Bull, so I try and be there every time (which, to my knowledge, has been twice) that the Big Bull improvises holiday tunes in their unique style.

December 22, 2009; 11:46 AM • by Dean Christesen

I say “improvise” because not much thought — if any at all — seems to go into the tunes before the set begins. Each band member is given a small book of photocopied hymns and carols, and the set is formed on the spot by requests. There’s a lot of vocal direction going on by leader Matt White during the music, and his direction and the band’s intuition and creativity really make for interesting arrangements. This is a band that’s been together for quite a while now, and one that knows its own style. The direction of a song may be determined by, say, a single saxophone, but the rest of the band is quick to pick up on it.

With trusty phone in hand, I attempted to record what I could of the set, although I didn’t get the first tune, “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (it’s cool, I tweeted about it). The audio is what they call “a little rough,” but I recommend listening if you want to hear how some familiar Christmas tunes can get modified into an interesting style on the spot.

Listen:

[audio:
http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/01%20Deck%20the%20Halls.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/02 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/03 White Christmas + Jingle Bells.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/05 Here Comes Santa Claus.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/06 The Little Drummer Boy_Linus and Lucy.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/07 We Three Kings.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/08 Requests.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/10 God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman_Cotton Kid.mp3,http://rvanews.net/sounds/Jazz/ftbb_xmas/11 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.mp3|titles=Deck the Halls,Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,White Christmas + Jingle Bells,Here Comes Santa Claus,The Little Drummer Boy/Linus and Lucy,We Three Kings,Requests,God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Cotton Kid,The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down|artists=Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull,Fight the Big Bull]

Check out the “Cold Sweat” groove in “Deck the Halls,” and the funky mixture of bass, brass backgrounds, and saxophone solo that develops.

Trombonist Bryan Hooten with trumpeter Bob Miller and others serenade us with “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” before an uptempo swing thing takes over. Check out the “White Christmas + Jingle Bells” mash-up and how the singing audience members don’t know any words past “Just like the one I used to know.” “Jingle Bells” takes a New Orleans trad-jazz turn with Jason Scott’s obbligati on the clarinet, Cameron Ralston’s pounding two-feel on the bass, and Bob’s King Oliver trumpet lines (not to mention some highly appropriate trombone slides).

The fast “Here Comes Santa Claus” takes off right away and has solos from saxophonist John Lilley and trading by trombonist Reggie Pace and Bob.

“The Little Drummer Boy” takes a quasi-reggae groove, and a saxophone background phrase from Bryan’s solo turns it briefly into the Peanuts theme. The ending disintegrates slowly and re-builds with a simple saxophone and trombone riff.

Jason Scott starts “We Three Kings” with a funky 6/4 thing, and Bryan takes the melody. After several false attempts at getting to that Star of Wonder, saxophone finally leads us there.

I included a minute of crowd requests because I find it funny. Long after the band decides on their next song, the requests keep coming in shouting form.

Bob, Cameron, and drummer Pinson Chanselle, swing on “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen,” before segueing into “Cotton Kid,” a FTBB trademark piece. After insistence from the rest of the band, Matt takes a rare guitar solo, and my microphone can’t handle the rock. A solo from Reggie follows.

They end with their signature set closer “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” a feature for Bryan’s re-imagination of Levon Helm’s vocal. In true holiday fashion, Jason cheeses it up at the end.