You Better Believe It! is an album by jazz musician and bandleader Gerald Wilson. Recorded in 1961 for the Pacific Jazz label,Pacific Jazz Records Catalog: 10000/20000 series accessed January 12, 2016 it featuring a 17-piece orchestra, the music is arranged, directed and mainly composed by Wilson. The orchestra is made up of West Coast-based musicians such as Richard "Groove" Holmes, Harold Land, and Carmell Jones.
Reception
AllMusic rated the album with 4 stars; in his review, Joe Viglion said: "The 17-piece orchestra performs like a trio or quartet, each musician knowing where to be and when to execute, so the tension shifts and the moods change as subtle instrumentation slides in track by instrumental track. Shifting from quiet to quickly dramatic, the ideas keep flowing from Wilson's creative fount ".
Track listing All compositions by Gerald Wilson except as indicated "Blues for Yna Yna" - 6:51 "Jeri" - 3:40 "Moody Blue" - 3:05 "Straight Up and Down" - 3:49 "The Wailer" - 7:16 "You Better Believe It" (Richard "Groove" Holmes, Gerald Wilson) - 5:16 "Yvette" - 3:33
Personnel Gerald Wilson - arranger and conductor John Audino, Carmell Jones, Al Porcino (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7), Jack Trainor (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7), Ray Triscari (tracks 1, 4 & 5), Jimmy Zito (tracks 1, 4 & 5) - trumpet Bob Edmondson, John Ewing, Lester Robertson (tracks 1, 4 & 5), Frank Strong (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7) - trombone Kenny Shroyer - bass trombone Buddy Collette - clarinet, alto saxophone, flute Harry Klee (tracks 1, 4 & 5), Joe Maini (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7) - alto saxophone Walter Benton (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7), Teddy Edwards, Harold Land (tracks 1, 4 & 5) - tenor saxophone Jack Nimitz (tracks 1, 4 & 5) Don Raffell (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7) - baritone saxophone Richard "Groove" Holmes - organ Gene Edwards - guitar (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7) Jimmy Bond - bass Mel Lewis - drums
References