Well, Gordon Goodwin's new audio dvd just came in yesterday. And, what can I say that the stuff that got knocked off my TV by the sheer power of the music can't? Listening to this music in this format is the most intense (listening) experience I've ever had. It's like sitting in the middle of all the sections.

Gordon's writing is nothing short of superb. He uses such a wide range of musical inventions from various sources (baroque, bebop, orchestral, opera as well as borrowing ideas from many of the great big band composers). Is GG as harmonically diverse as the likes of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Thad Jones, Bill Holman, Hank Levy, Stan Kenton, Rob McConnell or Bob Florence? Generally no. But, he's so hip I just can't stand it!


To date, this has to be best recording of a big band in the genres history. The unison lines sound like one horn, yet you can hear every instrument in the harmonies. Listening to this made my brain grow and the extras and commentary on the DVD really taught me a lot about how to write and develop the chart.

Can I fit all 18 guys in my living room?: I can't really convey what kind of power this thing blows out in 6 channel/650 watts, but I realized very quickly that I needed to drop it way down from regular DTS movie levels if I wanted to keep my drivers. LOTR DTS usually plays at vol = 50 on my receiver. I had to drop phat pack down to 44ish to get it at about that level!