Russ Anixter’s Hippie Big Band: “What Is?” (2025) CD Review

One of the most important bands in my life is the Grateful Dead. I heard them on the radio when I was six (“I Need A Miracle”), started getting into them when I was ten (my older cousin played Skeletons From The Closet), and started to really get into them when I was thirteen (a radio program played bootleg tapes), and saw them in concert for the first time when I was sixteen. A common utterance back then was “There’s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.” And that was true. Those guys were unlike any other band. Yet several bands, even then, and many more now, have covered the Dead’s music, taking it in directions that might have surprised even the band members. Russ Anixter’s Hippie Big Band puts the Dead’s music into a big band context, and on What Is? this group includes a few songs the Dead used to play. I suppose with a band name like that, it should come as no surprise that the Grateful Dead would figure prominently in the repertoire. And perhaps it should not be much of a surprise when Dead material is delivered in any sort of jazz context, since jazz had a strong influence on the Dead, on the way they approached a song. Russ Anixter’s Hippie Big Band is made up of Matt Hong on alto saxophone, flute and bass clarinet; Stan Harrison on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and clarinet; Frank Vacin on baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone and alto flute; Matt Owens on trumpet and flugelhorn; Audrey Flores on French horn; Dan Levine on trombone; Jack Schatz on bass trombone; Bill Hayes on vibraphone, xylophone and congas; Michael Aarons on guitar; Steve Count on bass; and Scott Neumann on drums. There are a couple of special guests on certain tracks. Russ Anixter did all the arrangements and orchestrations.

The album opens with a version of “What Is Hip?” that is energetic and exciting right from the start. This is a Tower Of Power tune, and it was the lead track on that group’s self-titled 1973 record. This band delivers a strong rendition with plenty of great work from the brass section and the rhythm section. There is some especially good work by Matt Hong on alto saxophone. These guys are scaling the mountain here, and doing it with a wild dance to their steps. It’s a fantastic start to the disc. It’s followed by “Dixie Chicken,” a Little Feat song I’ve always enjoyed. It’s a fun number, and these guys certainly nail that sense of fun, that sense of play, in this rendition. Everything is delightfully loose, just the kind of thing to get you feeling good. There is a bit of a second line vibe to it too at moments, adding to the fun. It’s easy to imagine this band winding through the streets of New Orleans playing this one, other folks joining in at each block. Things get a little chaotic in the middle, seeming to fall apart, but actually getting more interesting, the band breaking things down in order to explore certain places more fully, and, I suspect, to give them the opportunity to launch back into the groove with an even stronger force and greater joy. This song works incredibly well in this context. Special guest Steven Bernstein joins the band on slide trumpet on this track.

“Free Man In Paris” is an interesting choice. Joni Mitchell in a big band setting?  Sure, why not? After all, there is a certain jazz influence heard in some of her material, particularly an album like Court And Spark, from which this song comes. The song is paired with “Freedom Jazz Dance,” composed by Eddie Harris, and featuring some delicious drumming. And I love those light moments after the band returns to “Free Man In Paris.” Plus, this track features some really good stuff on vibraphone. They then go from Joni Mitchell to Beatles. I’m not sure what the best Beatles album is, though I tend to lean toward the White Album. But certainly a case can be made for Revolver, in part because of the presence of “She Said, She Said,” a fantastic and psychedelic song that the Hippie Big Band covers here. This group delivers a wonderful rendition of that song, taking the groove into some unexpected places. I love how when some of the instruments begin to explore, other instruments will touch upon the song’s main theme, so that things never stray too far afield, yet still keep us on our toes. This is one of my favorite tracks. It is followed by “Heaven On Their Minds.” I had forgotten about this song. It has been a while since I’ve listened to Jesus Christ Superstar (in part because I never want to hear “What’s The Buzz” again). The guitar figures prominently on this track, right from the start, Michael Aarons delivering some good stuff. This track also features some excellent work by Frank Vacin on both soprano saxophone and alto flute. This song is actually pretty damn wonderful as an instrumental.

Then we get the good ol’ Grateful Dead. The first song they tackle is “Saint Stephen,” one of the band’s great vehicles for exploration, and one I wish I had gotten a chance to see the Dead perform. Word was the band was soundchecking it toward the end. Who knows what might have been if Jerry had lived another year or two? Anyway, the Hippie Big Band gives us a good and fairly respectful rendition of the main body of the song, with a bright energy. You can easily sing along if you wish. They do not include the William Tell section, but rather go straight into a spirited rendition of “Turn On Your Lovelight” (skipping “The Eleven”). It’s fun, but nothing too wild. This track is only seven minutes after all, including both songs. They return to “Saint Stephen” just before the end. That is followed by an interesting rendition of “Uncle John’s Band,” with a vibe almost like an a cappella version at first, for there is no rhythm section for the first minute or so. Here the woodwinds shine. The rest of the band does come in just before what would be the “Goddamn, well, I declare” line, and we get some nice work on guitar. Oz Noy joins the band on guitar on this track. This is a song that I keep turning to in these days when fascist morons are running, and ruining, the show. “Ain’t no time to hate, barely time to wait.” I’m trying, I’m trying. This track has such a positive vibe to it, and features some excellent jamming toward the end. Then, holy moly, the band is seriously grooving on “Hide Away.” This is pure fun, with a delicious energy to take us right through all the troubles ahead of us. The track contains some really good guitar work. In the middle, the band shifts into Mancini’s “Peter Gunn Theme,” sticking with that for a while. I guess Russ Anixter figured the track needed yet another layer of cool. Things really take off then. I especially love that saxophone work. And, yes, if you’re wondering, “Hide Away” is a song the Dead covered on at least one occasion.

Moondance is one of those albums that absolutely everyone should have in his collection. Every track on it is excellent, and the album has a great vibe to it. One of that record’s best songs is “Into The Mystic,” and the Hippie Big Band delivers a sweet rendition of it here, capturing the wonderful vibe of the original recording and putting me in such a good mood. That’s followed by “Whipping Post.” There is a good deal of power to this band’s rendition of The Allman Brothers Band’s song right from its opening moments. This is a seriously cool version. Steven Bernstein returns on slide trumpet for this one, delivering some great stuff. And the band does explore a bit here, taking us in some interesting directions. I love how the band approaches this song. They wrap things up with “Green Hornet Theme.” And why not? Television shows had great theme music back then, and this track is a whole lot of fun. It features some delightful work on both trumpet and xylophone.

CD Track List

1. What Is Hip?
2. Dixie Chicken
3. Free Man In Paris/Freedom Jazz Dance
4. She Said, She Said
5. Heaven On Their Minds
6. Saint Stephen/Turn On Your Lovelight
7. Uncle John’s Band
8. Hide Away
9. Into The Mystic
10. Whipping Post
11. Green Hornet

What Is? was released on February 7, 2025.