Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band

Micah and I visited Jack London Square to hear one of the most amazing big bands on the planet, Gordon Goodwin’s “Big Phat Band.” And we were joined by an enthusiastic crowd with a line stretching out the door. Big band nerds of planet, unite!

The music was energetic, dazzling in complexity, and unfailingly tight. We especially liked the theme song from “The Incredibles”, which this band wrote and performed. Also a tribute to Looney Toons called “Hunting Wabbits.”

Gordon also explained that in the Count Basie era, bands often improvised whole songs on the spot. So we instructed his band to improvise a B-flat blues. Without any time to discuss amongst themselves, the bass player started the group out – and to everyone’s delight, they improvised something that would be right at home with the Basie band.

We also had some tasty sushi in Yoshi’s restaurant before the show.

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