Tiny Big Band 2 - Nikos Chatzitsakos - Review

by Andy Harrison—

Tiny Big Band 2 opens strong; a mysterious piano figure sets the scene before giving way to a sprightly tenor saxophone. All the players move through bandleaders Nikos Chatzitsakos’ charts with skill and nerve on “All or Nothing at All,” with the joy of the ensemble coming through the recording loud and clear. The best part is? It only gets better from here. 

Chatzitsakos’ Tiny Big Band, a nonet featuring (among others) Salim Charvet and Art Baden on alto and tenor sax, Robert Mac Vega-Dowda on cornet and Nikos himself sitting on bass, is operating within the set boundaries of modern jazz, riffing on the typical themes found in contemporary big band music, but don’t let that fool you: all of Chatzitsakos’ arrangements are performed with an energy that is often lacking among big bands, making this a standout record in 2024 so far. 

"Chatzitsakos’ arrangements are performed with an energy that is often lacking among big bands..."

 For the listener on-the-go, make sure “Get Out of Town” and Tiny Big Band’s take on Tom Jobim in “Fotografia” are introduced to whatever jazz playlists you may have. In particular, Baden’s playing on “Town” is worth highlighting - his tone is warm and inviting, and he demonstrates his technical skill with aplomb, making the track linger in the listener’s memory long after its five-minute runtime. While all the cuts are worthwhile, these gems are a reassurance that jazz won’t obsolesce with proficient musicians like these taking on the standards. 

Chatzitsakos' role as the bandleader is admirable. Remarking in a brief profile with No Treble that his bass superpower is “having good relationships with drummers,” he provides a steady presence for his players to improvise off of and showcase their own talents. He stands out on “Windmills of Your Mind,” sure, but his preference is to orchestrate from the shadows rather than take the spotlight, so to speak. Because of this, Tiny Big Band’s musical conversation with its own members, new developments in jazz as well as the old masters makes it a worthwhile addition to anybody’s listening rotation.

AAF Rating: 4/5 trumpets

AAF Top Picks: All or Nothing at All, Fotografia, You Know I Care, Where or When, The Windmills of Your Mind