Lou's Blues is a big band jazz album by saxophonist Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) recorded at Bates Brothers Recording in Hueytown, Alabama (near Birmingham, Alabama). This CD was the first recording as a leader by Marini. Lou Marini is best known as a member of several noted bands, including Blood, Sweat and Tears, Steely Dan, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Buddy Rich Band, The Maureen McGovern Band, the James Taylor Band, the Saturday Night Live Band, Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder and the Blues Brothers Band. Production duties for the album were shared by Lou Marini and Birmingham, Alabama based jazz musician Ray Reach.

Lou's Blues
Studio album by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO)
Released	2001
Recorded	1999 & 2000, Bates Brothers Recording, Hueytown, Alabama
Genre	Big Band
Length	46:08
Label	Chase Music Group
Producer	Lou Marini and Ray Reach
Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) chronology
Lou's Blues (2001) Live at Workplay - Lew Soloff and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (2009)

All of the arrangements on this CD were written by Lou Marini, and all the compositions are his, except for "Mr. Clean," which was composed by Weldon Irvine. Some of the charts on this album have become enduring favorites of the Lab Bands at the University of North Texas. Liner notes for the CD were written by Grammy Award winning saxophonist, arranger, composer and producer, Bob Belden.

Track listing

1. "Lou's Blues"
2. "Looking With New Eyes"
3. "Hip Pickles"
4. "Odalisk"
5. "Mr. Clean"
6. "Song For John"
7. "Dangerous Cargo"
8. "Rena / Country"

Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) Personnel

The MCJO personnel for Lou's Blues included:

• MCJO Founding Director: Ray Reach
• Woodwinds: Gary Hallquist, Gary Wheat, Neil McLean, Grady Chandler, Daniel Western and Kim Bain
• Trumpets: Mart Avant, Chris Gordon, John Taylor, Craig Konicek, Bo Berry and Darryl Jones
• Trombones: Steve Pryor, Edson Worden, Dr. Bob Black, Charles Ard, and Jim Moeller

External links

• Ray Reach - Official Website
• Magic City Jazz Orchestra at AllAboutJazz.com (Includes a reprint of the CD liner notes, written by Bob Belden.)
• Magic City Jazz Orchestra on Myspace
• Article from April 7, 2004 edition of the Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, Ohio mentions Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
• Lou's Blues reviews
• "Lou's Blues" CD at Amazon.com

References