ALBUM REVIEW
Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band - What's Next?
Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band isn't your standard, straight-laced jazz ensemble. Itโs an unconventional, hard-grooving 11-piece New York collective that takes the wild, improvisational freedom of late-1960s counterculture rock and smashes it together with the sophisticated horn charts of large-ensemble jazz. Formed in 2019, the band treats classic tracks from the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Little Feat, and Miles Davis like raw canvasesโstretching them out with massive horn arrangements, unexpected rhythmic shifts, and plenty of room for heavy jamming. The group keeps a tight, dedicated lineup of killer musicians who are regulars in New Yorkโs elite studio, Broadway, and jazz circles.
The whole project is the brainchild of veteran arranger, orchestrator, and trombonist Russ Anixter. Russ grew up in San Francisco during the peak of the psychedelic era, so his musical DNA was permanently shaped by the fluid, sprawling, cross-genre jams of hometown bands like Santana and the Dead. He eventually headed East to serious up his game, earning a Master's from the Manhattan School of Music. When he isn't fronting the big band, Russ is a massive behind-the-scenes force in the Broadway theater industry, spending over three decades supervising and preparing scores for massive hits like Wicked, Jersey Boys, and The Lion King.
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Opening with the Beatles, I Saw Her Standing There, Russ Axiter's Hippie Big Band transforms this 60's pop icon into a pseudo, movie soundtrack with genuine jazz overlay. Guitarist Michael Aarons handles a ripping, rock solo, with vibraphonist Bill Hayes and a full horn section of Matt Hong, Stan Harrison, Frank Vacin on saxes, Matt Owens on trumpet, Audrey Flores on french horn, Dan Levine and Jack Schatz on trombones, Steve Count on bass and Scott Neumann on drums. Dr. John's, I Walk on Guilded Splinters really grooves with dense, dark congss by Hayes and syncopated horn punches interwoven just like the Dr ordered. Harrison really gets his clarinet rolling and a deep bass trombone by Schatz really hits the spot. My favorite track on the release.
The Dead's, Shakedown Street gets a full orchestral rework but maintains the funky dance feel. Saxophonist Matt Hong cuts loose with a soulful alto saxophone solo, and Matt Owens' synthesized trumpet solo gived the track a lighter feel but his solo is anything but, and Stan Harrison adds a healthy tenor sax solo of his own giving the track additional depth. Joe Zawinul's, A Remark You Made, showcases Levine on trombone and he kills it with excellent feel and tone. Hong on alto sax adds lush richness to the already wealthy composition.
Wrapping the release is Led Zeps No Quarter, coupled with Miles' Bitches Brew, Owens and Vacin create an interesting blend of the Prince of Darkness with the No Quarter vamp playing underneath highlighted by Hayes on vibes and the understated muted trumpet work by Owens blowing the melody. As No Quarter continues on, I love the soprano play by Vacin who literally blows the doors off. Leave it to Anixter fo pull off a Gil Evans like arrangement pulling it all back into shape for a final run to the end. Very interesting.
๐ Album Credits & Production Info
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- Album Title What Next?
- Artist Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band
- Record Label Self-Released
- Release Date August 7, 2026
- Personnel Russ Anixter (Arrangements & Orchestrations), Matt Hong, Stan Harrison, Frank Vacin, Matt Owens, Audrey Flores, Dan Levine, Jack Schatz, Bill Hayes, Michael Aarons, Steve Count, Scott Neumann, Danny Louis, Erica von Kleist
- Studio Production Produced by Dan Levine, Russ Anixter, and John Kilgore. Recorded at The Bunker Studios, Brooklyn, NY.
๐ผ Track Listing & Personnel
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Featured Personnel & Masters: Danny Louis, Erica von Kleist, and Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band.
- I Saw Her Standing There
- Freddie's Dead (feat. Danny Louis)
- I Walk on Guilded Splinters
- Freeway Jam
- Shakedown Street
- Bird Song (feat. Erica von Kleist)
- A Remark You Made
- Compared to What
- No Quarter / Bitches Brew
- War Pigs (Bonus Track)
๐บ Session Video Performance
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Watch: Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band play live sessions
๐ต Discography & Purchase Options
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| Album Title | Record Label | Accreditation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| What Next? | Self-Released | Big Band Reimaginings of Classic Rock & Jazz-Funk | 2026 |
| What Is? | Self-Released | Debut Collection of Large-Ensemble Rock & Pop Standards | 2025 |
My take
Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band ingeniously morphs familiar rock and funk anthems into sophisticated, horn-driven landscapes, reaching its absolute pinnacle on a hypnotic rendition of "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" that stands out as the recording's definitive highlight. This collection is essential listening for the closing "No Quarter / Bitches Brew" medley alone, which pairs a legendary heavy-rock vamp with a brooding jazz fusion blueprint to deliver a staggering, reinspired climax.
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