feature photo: Jason Kruppa
As someone born in New Orleans and has lived there for nearly the entirity of his life, perhaps it was destined that David Bode would pursue the life of the jazz musician. And though he’s become proficient on reedy instruments, he’s particularly interested in big band and putting together creative orchestral jazz arrangements. That’s why his first album, coming out August 29, 2025, feature him leading a nineteen-piece jazz orchestra.
Good Hang (1718 Records) is a largwe gathering of some of Nawlins’ finest and Bode puts them to good use on arrangements that show off the diversity of his musical interests, from classic Coltrane (“Syeeda’s Song Flute”) to Jeff Buckley (“Lover, You Should Have Come Over”).
He sought to inject a little New Orleans spice into his charts, including the one highlighted here with the video premiering above, “Happy People.” This is a tune sourced from a fellow saxophone player, the eminent Kenny Garrett.
In its original form, it’s already a foot-stompin’ joyful ditty but Bode saw the Big Easy soul of the tune hiding in plain sight. That funky beat is brought over and the main melody lines sound great when there are a dozen plus horns playing it together; Bode even adapted some lead lines for the woodwinds and brass to play together. The solo spot went to pianist Daniel Meinecke and he made good on his moment in the sun. A false ending means that this song was just too much fun to end it then, and they go on a few more bars before shutting it down.
David Bode knows that music exists to make people feel good, and that seems to be his crusade for his opening statement Good Hang, via the power of a big band. In his hands “Happy People” is bound to create just that, happy people.
Pre-order/order Good Hang from Bandcamp.
*** David Bode on Amazon ***
*** Kenny Garrett CD’s and vinyl on Amazon ***
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