Bob Florence

Pianist and arranger Bob Florence has worked with Randy Newman, Ann Margaret, and Julie Andrews, but one of his first gigs was with the modernist Stan Kenton Orchestra. It's that last association that sticks to Florence's big band charts. He gives musicians, like perennially underrated saxophonist Bob Cooper, plenty of opportunity to solo on his complex, ultrahard-swinging arrangements. This is Modern Big Band music; raucous and rowdy, Florence must have the Spinal Tap amp that goes to eleven hard-wired to his heart.