NEW ALBUM! PETER HAND - BLUE TOPAZ on WHALING CITY SOUND

“Peter Hand has a hand in almost everything on Blue Topaz, playing masterful guitar, writing seven of the album's ten engaging numbers and arranging all of them..Hand's perceptive and luminous charts lend as much color and variety as one could need.”                                    All About Jazz - Jack Bowers

Here are some audio samples (with PETER HAND-Guitar, Composer, Arranger, EDDIE ALLEN-Trumpet, DON BRADEN-Tenor, Soprano Saxophones & Flute, JAMES WEIDMAN,  DAVID JANEWAY-Piano, HARVIE S-Bass, STEVE JOHNS-Drums and Special Guest HOUSTON PERSON-Tenor Saxophone on “One For My Baby”):

Above photos at Teaneck Sound, NJ (Pic 1, l-r: Steve Johns, Harvie S, James Weidman, Don Braden, Peter Hand, Eddie Allen; Pic 2, l-r: Johns, Hand, Houston Person, David Janeway)

PREVIOUS ALBUM - HAND PAINTED DREAM on SAVANT RECORDS

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Click Here To Purchase Peter Hand Big Band Music

HAND PAINTED DREAM on SAVANT RECORDS

HAND PAINTED DREAM, features outstanding soloists in new arrangements of jazz classics by Randy Weston, Tadd Dameron, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, plus original compositions. Downbeat “Rising Star” Camille Thurman is a guest vocalist and saxophonist, and the Secret String Quartet joins the band on the title track.

“The titled composition ‘Hand Painted Dream’, is a gorgeous miniature gem”.. “eloquent jazz guitarist with a mellow tone” - NOTES ON JAZZ, by Ralph A. Miriello

“This is far from a standard big band release…a truly exhilarating listening experience” Jazz Album of the Week, WRTI-FM, Philadelphia

“Fantastic, fantastic big band sound!..Guest appearance by Camille Thurman..she has the voice of an angel!” - EASTSIDE RADIO, Sydney, Australia

(Click here to purchase Hand Painted Dream)

Listen to Audio Samples:

(Musicians- Hand Painted Dream) Peter Hand: Guitar, Composer, Arrangements; Saxophones/Woodwinds: Jay Brandford, Bruce Williams, Don Braden, Ralph Lalama, Kenny Berger; Trumpets: Kevin Bryan, Eddie Allen, Valery Ponomarev, John Bailey; Trombones: James Burton III, John Mosca, Sam Burtis; Piano: James Weidman; Bass, Elec. Bass: Harvie S; Drums: Steve Johns; Camille Thurman: Vocal, Tenor Saxophone; The Secret String Quartet- Violins: Jennifer Choi, Cornelius Dufallo; Viola: Lev Zhurbin; Cello: Yves Dharamraj; Joshua Shneider: Guest Conductor

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PREVIOUS ALBUM - OUT OF HAND (With Houston Person, Guest Saxophonist)

Out Of Hand features an all-star big band performing a combination of standards and originals, with special guest tenor saxophonist Houston Person playing on 3 selections.

“Peter Hand, a most able guitarist, has put together a splendid 16-piece unit which upholds the spirit and history of the genre.”.. “Out Of Hand fully merits a five-star rating and will be a strong contender for record of the year honours.” ***** (5 stars) JAZZ JOURNAL (UK)

“Sunny” features clever horn charts and is bolstered by Person’s improvisational flights. Person’s gorgeous, fat tenor tone also enhances a romantic reading of the Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn song “Day Dream.”.. “Hand’s guitar solos are tasteful and restrained throughout, showcasing his fluid style with vibrant runs” - DOWNBEAT (Editorsʼ Picks)

“‘Night Echo” is a Latin-infused offering with Hand’s guitar leading the band through its paces”..“an imaginative showcase of big band music.” - AUDIOPHILE AUDITION

(Click here to purchase Out Of Hand)

Listen to Audio Samples:

(Musicians- Out Of Hand) Peter Hand: Guitar, Composer, All Arrangements;  Houston Person: Tenor Saxophone Saxophones/Woodwinds: Jay Brandford, Bruce Williams, Don Braden, Ralph Lalama, Kenny Berger; Trumpets: Kevin Bryan, Eddie Allen, Valery Ponomarev, John Bailey; Trombones-John Mosca, Vincent Gardner, Jack Jeffers; Piano: James Weidman; Bass: Harvie S; Drums: Steve Johns

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DEBUT ALBUM - THE WIZARD OF JAZZ - A TRIBUTE TO HAROLD ARLEN

For the Peter Hand Big Band album debut, this live concert recording celebrates the music of Harold Arlen, “The Wizard of Jazz”, with Houston Person featured throughout on tenor sax.

“…a dream big band”  “…upper echelon artists playing great arrangements of classic staples of the Great Amercian Songbook.”  “This CD is a triple prize for fans of big band, Harold Arlen, and Houston Person.” (****) AUDIOPHILE AUDITION  

“Harold Arlen would have loved this.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ

Click here to purchase The Wizard of Jazz

Listen to Audio Samples:

(Musicians- The Wizard of Jazz) Peter Hand: Guitar, All Arrangements; Saxophones/Woodwinds: Houston Person, Kenny Berger, Don Braden, Ralph Lalama, Brad Leali, Mike Migliore; Trumpets: Cecil Bridgewater, Brian Pareschi, Valery Ponomarev, Jim Rotondi; Trombones: Sam Burtis, John Mosca, Jim Pugh; Piano: Richard Wyands; Bass: Harvie S; Drums: Steve Johns. ——————————————————————————————————————

FIFTH AVENUE FANTASY - THE COMPOSITIONS OF PETER HAND (Unreleased)

A quartet recording produced by Peter Hand featuring his original compositions- a mix of ballads, bluesy swing and Latin jazz, with Frank Vicari- Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Mike Abene- Piano, Paul Berner- Bass, Dave Ratajczack- Drums.

Listen to Audio Samples:

All website photography by Nick Carter unless otherwise noted