Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (or The Big Phat Band) is an 18-piece jazz orchestra. It was led by Gordon Goodwin until his death in 2025. It combines big band swing of the 1930s and 1940s with modern music. It uses funk and jazz fusion. The Big Phat Band has many Grammy Awards and Grammy nominations.

Its first album, Swingin' for the Fences, was the first recording on DVD-Audio. It was the first DVD-Audio to be nominated for two Grammy Awards.[1]

Gordon Goodwin founded the Big Phat Band in 1999. At the time, Goodwin worked in Hollywood. He was a composer for Warner Brothers. He first became interested in big band music when he was 13. He was interested because he heard Count Basie play.[2]

Band members

Saxophones

Trumpets

  • Wayne Bergeron – 1st trumpet (founding member)
  • Mike Rocha – 2nd trumpet (since 2019)
  • Ryan Deweese - 4th Trumpet (since 2024)

Trombones

  • Andy Martin – 1st trombone (founding member)
  • Charlie Morillas – 2nd trombone (since 2001)
  • Francisco Torres – 3rd trombone (founding member – touring only)
  • Craig Gosnell – bass trombone (since 2005)

Rhythm section

  • Andy Waddell – guitar (since 2020)
  • Kevin Axt – bass (since 2015)
  • Ray Brinker – drums (since 2015)
  • Joey DeLeon – percussion (since 2012)

Vocals

  • Vangie Gunn - vocals (since 2019)

Temporary players

  • Dan Higgins – 1st alto saxophone (Swingin' for the Fences)
  • Grant Geissman – guitar (Swingin' for the Fences, XXL, The Phat Pack, Act Your Age)
  • Carl Verheyen – guitar
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Dennis Farias – 1st trumpet (Sing Sang Sung)

Previous Players

  • Gordon Goodwin – piano, conductor (1999–2025, his death)
  • Bernie Dresel - drums (1999–2015)
  • Bob Summers - trumpet (1999–2015)
  • Craig Ware - bass trombone (1999–2011)
  • Colin Meyer - trombone (touring only)
  • Alex Iles - trombone (1999–2008)
  • Willie Murillo - trumpet (2010–2020)
  • Andrew Synowick - guitar (2008–2020)
  • Dan Fornero - trumpet (2004 - 2025)
  • Dan Savant (1999 - 2019)
  • Brad Dutz - percussion (2005–2012)

Discography

  • Swingin' for the Fences (Silverline, 2000)
  • XXL (Silverline, 2003)
  • The Phat Pack (Immergent, 2006)
  • Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (Immergent, 2006)
  • Act Your Age (Immergent, 2008)
  • Dave Siebels With: Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (PBGL, 2009)
  • That's How We Roll (Telarc, 2011)
  • Life in the Bubble (Telarc, 2014)
  • Wrap This! (Music of Content, 2015)
  • The Gordian Knot (Music of Content, 2019)
  • The Reset (Music of Content, 2021)
  • Raymond Scott Reimagined (Violinjazz Recordings, 2023) with Quartet San Francisco

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards

  • Best Instrumental Arrangement – "On Green Dolphin Street" (2014)
  • Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Life in the Bubble (2016)

Grammy Award nominations

  • Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album – XXL (2003), Act Your Age (2008)
  • Best Instrumental Composition – "Hunting Wabbits", (2003), "Hit the Ground Running" (2008), "Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get off my Lawn)" (2012)
  • Best Instrumental Arrangement – "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (2006), "Yo Tannenbaum" (2007), "Yesterdays" (2008), "Rhapsody in Blue" (2012), "Party Rockers" (2015)
  • Best Instrumental Arrangement with Vocals – "Comes Love" with Brian McKnight and Take 6 (2003)

Other awards

  • Surround Sound Award, "Best Made for Surround Sound Title", XXL (2003)

References

  1. ↑ "Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | About Gordon Goodwin". www.bigphatband.com. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ Adams, Leah (August 4, 2015). "An Interview With Jazz Musician and Big Phat Band Conductor, Gordon Goodwin". All Access Music. Retrieved December 28, 2016.

Other websites

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