“Enter Autumn”–David Caffey Jazz Orchestra | November CD of the Month

As we begin the last month of the Fall, it pleases me to have selected a swingin’ jazz orchestra whose players are amongst the best musicians, and in some cases, educators the Front Range has to offer.

The composer, arranger and conductor of this aggregation is the award winning, and educator David Caffey who is now a resident of Greely.

Enter Autumn is a marvelous recording containing 8 tantalizing tunes that are sure to make your head bop, your fingers snap and your toes tap while pleasing your ears.

Like many of us, autumn is David’s favorite time of the year which is why he chose this title complete with a splendid photo of Colorado foliage on the cover. 

David is known as one of the greatest jazz educators of the past 40 years, having taught at many colleges and universities, conducted many big bands and served as instructor in clinics throughout Europe, Canada and the US, mostly in California and Colorado.

In 2011, Mr. Caffey was elected to California’s Jazz Educators Hall of Fame. Returning to Colorado and becoming part of the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley, he recruited outstanding members of the UNC faculty as well as other fine musicians and educators from UC-Boulder to complete the 17 piece David Caffey Jazz Orchestra.

Of the 8 songs on Enter Autumn’s playlist, 6 are from David’s pen as well as all entries are his arrangements.  Caffey conducts the ensemble while allowing most musicians a chance to solo throughout the songbook. The 2 non-Caffey selections are Freddie Hubbard’s Birdlike and Michael Brecker’s Both Sides of the Coin. The title track-Enter Autumn evokes the feeling of changing colors and falling leaves while Blue 16 serves as a showcase for trumpeter brad Good.

To change the pace, Samba de Linda is part of the repertory that besides adding a bit of Brazil to the mix, it is a song in tribute to Mrs. Caffey, Linda. This is a most enjoyable CD all the way through, best thing about it is that with David Caffey’s composing and conducting skills, no matter what he comes up with next, it will not be a winter of music—it will be another smile provoking adventure.