Tip of the Iceberg -

Tip of the Iceberg was an American jazz-funk big band that released a 1975 self-titled album on Project 3 Records.

Members: Derek Smith (electric piano, clavinet), Albie Berk (drums), Russel George (bass), Tony Mottola (electric guitar, guitar), Don Albano (electric guitar, vocals), Sue Evans (percussion), Phil Kraus (percussion), George Young (tenor saxophone, flute, fife, alto flute), Eddie Daniels (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass flute, alto flute, bass clarinet), Phil Bodner (baritone saxophone, flute, alto flute), Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jon Faddis [as John Faddis] (trumpet, flugelhorn), Lew Soloff [as Lou Soloff] (trumpet, flugelhorn), Urbie Green (trombone), Dave Bargeron (trombone), Wayne Andre (trombone), Paul Faulise (trombone), Jane Meryll (vocals), Maeretha Stewart (vocals), Hilda Harris (vocals)

Background

Tip of the Iceberg originated in New York as a Project 3 studio ensemble led by arranger, conductor, and producer Jeff Hest.

Hest led the New York Jazz Composers Octet on alto saxophone at the March 1968 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, where judges awarded Hest a Berklee summer scholarship for his arrangements.

Enoch Light hired Hest for Project 3 after chief arranger Lew Davies died in December 1968 in New York. By 1972, Hest arranged and associate-produced Project 3 sessions for Light and guitarist Tony Mottola, including 4-Channel Dynamite and Tony and Strings.

Hest assembled a 20-member studio ensemble from the Project 3 New York session pool for a six-track program under his direction. Hest drew on label regulars including Mottola, pianist Derek Smith, reed player Phil Bodner, and trombonist Urbie Green. He arranged and supervised the sessions and composed the program, prepared by Project 3 as Tip of the Iceberg.

Discography: