Concerti by Michael Houstoun with the Rodger Fox Big Band

It may seem an incongruous pairing on the face of it, but Michael Houstoun and Rodger Fox have something vital in common –– they love music, and it shows.

Their first recording together, "Concerti" is comprised of four substantial arrangements for jazz orchestra and concert piano that straddles two worlds in celebration of a common musical language. The music is dynamic, passionate, and extraordinarily rich in terms of its compositional and performance qualities.

Simply put, this band kicks! And riding the wave like a seasoned jazz veteran is the fearless Michael Houstoun, matching the ensemble note for note, blow for blow. If Michael's contribution stopped at the performance of the first movement of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, that would have been satisfying enough, but on "Concerti" he goes head to head with Rodger and his kick-ass ensemble for the full 12 rounds.

Tracklist

1.	Bill Cunliffe - Jazz Rondo	11:21

2.	Raff Riff	6:44

3.	Serge Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3, i. Andante - Allegro	16:22

4.	Bill Cunliffe - Warriors	9:35

Credits

released June 7, 2015

Michael Houstoun (piano)
Rodger Fox (trombone, musical director)
Lauren Ellis (drums)
Rowan Clark (bass)
Nick Granville (guitar)
Anita Schwabe (Fender Rhodes on tracks 1 & 4)

Produced by Rodger Fox and Talley Sherwood
Big Band recorded by Troy Kelly at STL Studios (Wellington, NZ)
Piano recorded by Troy Kelly at the Adam Concert Room, Victoria University (Wellington, NZ)
Mixed and mastered by Talley Sherwood at Tri-Tone Studios (Los Angeles, USA)
Design by UnkleFranc
Printing by Studio Q

The recording of this CD was made possible
by a grant from the Research Office, Victoria
University of Wellington (NZ)

SAXOPHONES
Chris Buckland (soprano, alto)
Bryn van Vliet (alto, tenor)
Jake Baxendale (tenor)
Eilish Wilson (baritone)

TRUMPETS
Jon Papenbrook (lead on tracks 2 & 4, spilt lead on track 1)
Ben Hunt (lead on track 3, split lead on track 1)
Imogen Thirwell (track 2)
Michael Costeloe (tracks 1, 3 & 4)
James Wisnesky
Chris Selley

TROMBONES
Christopher Fox
Damian Forlong
Kurt Gibson
Cameron Kidby (tracks 3 & 4)
Sean Tickle (tracks 1 & 2)

License