Tony Kadleck Big Band | "Sides"

Trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader/educator Tony Kadleck is one of the most sought-after trumpet players on the New York City scene, and has been for some time. He moved to NYC in 1986, following his studies at the New England Conservatory–and a stint in the trumpet section of The Buddy Rich Big Band–and his phone has been ringing ever since. For good reason; at every turn, Kadleck puts the music first, and more than takes care of business. He graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 1989 and quickly hit the road with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Blood Sweat & Tears, and others. Eventually, Kadleck was in such high demand locally, for studio and stage work, that touring took a back seat. He played on countless jingles, scores for TV and film, and worked with the cream of the crop, including Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Issac Hayes, and most recently Steely Dan, Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga, Santana, Weezer, Steve Tyrell, and many, many others. In addition to an on-going abundance of freelance sideman work with NYC’s A-list artists, Kadleck is currently a member of many organizations, including the New York Pops, John Pizzarelli’s “Swing Seven”, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, John Fedchock’s NY Big Band, and can currently be heard on Broadway in the band for “MJ”.  

To say that Kadleck is a rare bird is a major understatement. Possessing the expertise, musical acumen, phrasing, range, chops, and the desire to handle gigs as diverse as the New York Pops and The Who (for example) with straight-ahead professionalism and excellence is not common. His prowess now bears fruit on his own project, Sides (to be released on Marshall Gilkes’ Alternate Side Records on February 10, 2023), which follows up his previous big band album, Around The Horn, and his debut as a leader, Extended Outlook.   

Somehow, Tony Kadleck found time in his bustling sideman schedule to expertly arrange nine of his favorite tunes for a star-studded big band recording, titled Sides, featuring Kadleck’s brilliant interpretations of Herbie Hancock’s “Driftin’”, Joe Henderson’s “Recorda-Me”, Jobim’s “Desafinado”, Bill Withers’ “Use Me”, another Hancock classic, “Dolphin Dance”, another Joe Henderson gem, “Caribbean Fire Dance”, one of Joni Mitchell’s biggest hits, “Both Sides, Now”, Paquito D’Rivera’s “One For Tom”, and “Can’t Buy Me Love”, from Lennon/McCartney.

The band on Sides is a dream band for sure, and probably could only be assembled in NYC, and most likely could only be corralled by a few people on the scene, Kadleck being one of them. Kadleck arranged solo spots for fellow trumpeters Greg Gisbert (on “Driftin’”), Marvin Stamm (on “Desafinado”) and Mike Rodriguez (on “Dolphin Dance”), and dazzles and delights us with his own solo flights on, “Use Me” (a wonderful example of the quintessential trumpet sound that Kadleck brings to the table), and “Both Sides, Now” (a beautiful, soul-stirring and poignant example of a world-class trumpeter and arranger at work, as is the entire album). Other artists featured on Sides include tenor saxophonist Jason Rigby on “Driftin’” (“whose technique and beautiful sound shine,” says Kadleck), Andy Snitzer on tenor saxophone (“one of the best in this genre,” proclaims Kadleck), “a fiery trumpet solo by the incredible Mike Rodriguez,” on “Dolphin Dance”, drummer Jared Schonig, the driving force behind Henderson’s spirited “Caribbean Fire Dance,” and Jon Gordon and Marshall Gilkes on “One For Tom,” of which Kadleck says, “Jon evokes the gorgeous sound and time feel of the great Phil Woods, and Marshall plays lines that we never knew were possible on the trombone.” 

When you really think about it, Sides has taken a lifetime to make. It is a culmination of thousands of hours of erudition, developing and maintaining the physical aspects of the trumpet, harmony and theory, sessions, gigs and tours, etc . . . really, a staggering amount of passion, love, work and experience goes into what you hear coming from Tony Kadleck’s horn, and from his colleagues on this album. Therefore, the release of Sides on February 10, 2023 is cause for reveling in the joy, excitement, wistfulness, and contemplation that these artists and this recording are capable of conjuring up.