ABOUT 25 YEARS OF PHATNESS
What better way than to use the words from our leader himself: It took me a while. I didn’t decide to put together my own big band until 1999, roughly 30 years after I fell in love with the Count Basie Orchestra when I was in middle school. But it takes as long as it takes and eventually I finally felt I had the confidence and artistic maturity to give it a shot. Our first album Swingin’ for the Fences came out in January 2000 and the Big Phat Band was born.
We were fortunate that Fences got some good reviews and attracted some attention, particularly amongst young high school and college musicians. This lead to some live gigs, and little by little we became a real band, playing our music for real people. It was this process where we bonded as musicians, and established a culture as a group. There is no shortcut to this process, it comes with time. Along with this, our personnel evolved. Musicians come and go in a group like this, for various reasons. But we have had numerous musicians who spent over 10 years in the Big Phat Band and several who have been there from the very first gig. There are so many wonderful players that have given their talents to the band, and space does not permit me to list all of them here. But perhaps the most notable of these musicians is our lead trumpet player Wayne Bergeron. Wayne’s influence on the sound of the band is strong and undeniable. His range on power on the trumpet is well acknowledged, but his inherent musicality places him on another level. I can truly say that without Wayne, there would be no Big Phat Band.
Here on our 25th anniversary, Wayne has stepped into a new role as co-producer for this album. His taste, along with his musical and technical knowledge make him perfect for that role.
25 years is a long time, and yet it seemed to go by in an instant. We are grateful for our fans that have supported us during all that time, particularly the young musicians who pass this music down to their younger colleagues.
This album features some new concepts as well as revisiting some old favorites, updated a bit. It has been my honor to bring this music to you. Leading the Big Phat Band has brought balance to my life and I want to sincerely thank all of you for your support throughout the years.
ABOUT GORDON GOODWIN'S BIG PHAT BAND
Even for a successful composer and arranger in Hollywood, Gordon Goodwin’s numbers are impressive: A 2006 GRAMMY Award for his Instrumental Arrangement of “Incredits” from the Pixar film The Incredibles, three Emmy Awards, and 25 GRAMMY nominations and 4 Grammy Wins!
Here’s another impressive number to add to the list: 19. As in the number of musicians in Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, one of the most exciting large jazz ensembles on the planet. Established in 2000 and populated by L.A.’s finest players, the Big Phat Band takes the big band tradition into the new millennium with a contemporary, highly original sound featuring Goodwin’s witty, intricate, and hard-swinging compositions in a veritable grab bag of styles: swing, Latin, blues, classical, rock and more. Goodwin’s music is nothing less than astonishing when experienced live.
A keyboardist and woodwind player, Goodwin has built a larger-than-life reputation throughout the music industry for his composing, arranging and playing skills. Music director for Johnny Mathis then Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, Toni Braxton, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Brian McKnight, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, Eddie Daniels, Take 6 and Quincy Jones are just a few of the artists with whom he has worked. Goodwin has also conducted world-renowned symphony orchestras in Atlanta, Dallas, Utah, Seattle, Toronto and London.
Goodwin’s cinematic scoring and orchestration craft can be heard on such films as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Escape to Witch Mountain, Get Smart, Glory Road, National Treasure, The Incredibles, Remember The Titans, Armageddon, The Majestic, Con Air, Gone In 60 Seconds, Enemy of the State, Star Trek Nemesis and even the classic cult film Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes. Goodwin’s soundtrack to Looney Tunes’ Bah HumDuck! – a wacky Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck riff on the classic A Christmas Carol – also features the Big Phat Band’s patented sound.
25 Years of Phatness, Goodwin’s 13th album, takes the band to a whole new modern level of sound and sophistication. Not only is the album Gordon’s signature sound as well as pushing the boundaries musically, but it is the last album he recorded before his untimely death in December 2025. He will be remembered forever with his incredible musical legacy.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Listening to Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, I was immediately taken by Gordon’s contemporary musical viewpoint, the dynamics of his “Big Phat Band,” its bevy of superb soloists, and the exhilaration of its sound.
Quincy Jones
Legendary Musician & Producer
The new recording continues the band’s longstanding penchant for racing through a dizzying array of musical styles, handling all the twists and turns with an improbable degree of execution and precision.
Gary Fukushima
DownBeat Magazine
Gordon, you’ve discovered another new way to make the best music happen. Your compositional inventiveness is still the most unique in existence. Your music shows again how unparalleled you are as a creator of the best jazz. You still lead the pack for me, and I’m humbly proud to know you and your work.
Dave Grusin
Musician
Goodwin was one of the most acclaimed, successful and influential jazz musicians of his generation on multiple fronts.
Michael J. West
DownBeat Magazine