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The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel offers its first studio album,following up Live N’s Bernin’s (2016)

Available September 4, 2018 from DIG•IT Recordings (on CD, Pure Audio Blu-ray Disc™, and digital download)

Temecula, CA -- September 4, 2018 -- As the drummer for Gordon Goodwin’ss Big Phat Band (1999-2015) and the Brian Setzer Orchestra (1992-2007) — both of them Grammy winners — Bernie Dresel has had a major impact on the art of modern big-band drumming. He’ss also one of the most accomplished studio drummers in the industry, with countless film and TV credits (Incredibles 2, Family Guy, The Simpsons) as well as recording and/or live experience with Maynard Ferguson, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, Chaka Khan, Andrea Bocelli, Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, David Byrne, Dolly Parton and countless others. As leader of The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel, he has branched out as a modern big band leader in his own right, debuting in 2016 with the irrepressible Live N’s Bernin’s. Now The BBB returns with a sterling studio effort, Bern Bern Bern, bursting with energetic swing and groove, gripping arrangements and sonic surprises.

Produced by Gary Reber and Dresel, and recorded by engineer Jeff Peters at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Bern Bern Bern was then mixed by Patrick Lemmens and mastered for Pure Audio Blu-ray Disc by Tom Van Achte in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Auro-3D® Native 9.1 Immersive Sound, a post-production process developed by the innovative Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. The album includes a 16-page booklet with detailed information about the recording process and post-production, as well as track-by-track commentary from Dresel himself.

Rooted in modern jazz but venturing into rock, funk, jump, Latin and other styles, Bern Bern Bern is fueled in no small part by the fine arranging, compositional and soloing skills of Dresel’ss bandmates, all highly seasoned professionals on the Los Angeles studio scene. Trombonist/arranger James McMillen contributes three original pieces, while trumpeter Jeff Bunnell provides strong arrangements of Dizzy Gillespie’ss classic “A Night In Tunisia” and the perennial ballad “Body And Soul.” Baritone saxophonist Brian Williams’s “ALL The Things!” — with a particularly inspired soli section — and his hauntingly unusual bari sax ballad feature “Early Spring” are among the other highlights.

In addition, Bern Bern Bern features the inspired arrangements and/or compositions of Andrew Neu, Bill Cunliffe, Scott Healy, Nan Schwartz, Michael B. Nelson and Tower of Power founding member Greg Adams. Prominent soloists include trumpeter Carl Saunders, saxophonists Rob Lockart, Tom Luer and Brian Scanlon, trombonist Ryan Dragon, Brian Setzer Orchestra bassist Johnny “Spazz” Hatton and guitarist Andrew Synowiec. Dresel makes a point of not including piano (or vocals) in The BBB, preferring instead the versatile rock and funk edge of Synowiec’ss guitar, heard to most searing effect on Adams’s “Zuit Soot” and Nelson’ss “New Dell Inn.” However, Bern Bern Bern does incorporate keyboards for the first time, showcasing the top-tier abilities of Jeff Babko.

Dresel and the band delight in unusual sounds, captured brilliantly on Bern Bern Bern right away on the kickoff “BBB Opener” but also throughout. Ukulele bass, tremolo baritone guitar, banjo, backwards effects, sirens, even a nine-piece ensemble drawn from the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir (featuring Dresel’ss wife, principal clarinetist Victoria Ramos Dresel): these are just some of the unorthodox tones and textures thrown into the mix.

The epic sweep and ambition of Cunliffe’ss “Suite B,” the 15-minute finale, truly displays The BBB’ss range and mastery. Yet there are traces of straight-up Swing Era exuberance in the Gene Krupa references of “Zuit Soot” and “Bern Bern Bern” as well, or in the spirit of a Cole Porter burner like “It’ss Alright With Me.” With a deep love of the big band tradition and a bold modernist impulse and imagination as well, The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel is forging ahead in pursuit of their own inimitable sound.

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For more information contact Gary Reber at Reber Productions and DIG•IT Recordings – - 951 676 4914 office, 951 203 3887 mobile, gary@reberproductions.com.