Gordon Lee And The Gleeful Big Band - Flying Dream (2004)

Portland-based composer, jazz pianist, arranger, conductor and music educator Gordon Lee has been one of the pre-eminent voices in NW jazz for decades performing with top names, touring the world and recording his own small group CDs featuring Jim Pepper, Leroy Vinnegar and Mel Brown. In this, the first recording of his big band, Lee features some of Portland's finest improvisational voices performing his alternately swinging, pensive, dynamic and lush arrangements of his own compositions and an arrangement on "Where or When." Reminiscent of some of the fine modern big band recordings of the past 15 years by Brookmeyer, Schnieder and others, Lee takes his hard-earned experiences and creates a project with personality, swing and beauty.