Calle's rhythmic "Mambo Wambo," on which his robust, expressive tenor is out front (as it is on the Caribbean-flavored "Rice & Beans"), sets the pendulum in motion, and it keeps swinging tirelessly regardless of mood or tempo. "Hike," also recorded live, is especially fast and tricky, but the ensemble nails it with ease, as it does every other number. Percussionist Al "Tito" Ortiz lends reinforcement on Calle's originals and on "Lucy," which begins as a slow sax soli before building to a rip-roaring climax behind Calle's fiery tenor.

Soloists, from Dickinson, Nguyen, Lore and Dornfeld to tenors Jeremy Fratti and Cody Phillips, alto Ryan Weisheit, trombonist Luke Brimhall and drummer John Lumpkin (who anchors the persuasive rhythm section) are less than memorable but more than respectable. The album as a whole is entirely commendable and warmly recommended. One caveat: if you plan to read the liner notes, be sure to have a magnifying glass handy.

Tracks and Personnel

Eastern Standard Time

Tracks: Caravan; Stella by Starlight; On Green Dolphin Street; Body and Soul; Oleo; All the Things You Are; Warm Valley; Love for Sale; Cherokee.

Personnel: Alan Baylock: arranger, conductor; Brian McDonald, Rick Cooper, Rich Sigler, Tim Leahey, Tim Stanley (1,2,7): trumpet, flugelhorn; Antonio Orta, Andy Axelrad: alto sax; Joseph Henson, Luis Hernandez: tenor sax; Doug Morgan: baritone sax; Ben Patterson, Jeff Martin, Joe Jackson, Jeff Cortazzo: trombone; Harry Appelman (1,2,6,7,9), Tony Nalker (3-5,8): piano; John Pineda: bass; Steve Fidyk: drums. Special guest: Jerry Bergonzi (1,2,7): tenor sax.

The Music of Michel Herr

Tracks: CD1: Springboard; Distant Echoes; Extremes; Multributes; Bad Fever; Song for Lucy; Out of the Silence. CD2: Celebration Suite (Prelude / Bells / New Page / The Next 20 Years); Flagey, a New Era (Past Splendor / Hibernation / The Awakening / Sailing Again); Song for Micheline; Pentaprism.

Personnel: Michel Herr: composer, arranger, conductor; Frank Vaganee: leader, alto, soprano sax, flute; Serge Plume, Nico Schepers, Pierre Drevet, Jeroen Van Malderen: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dieter Limbourg: alto sax, flute; Kurt Van Herck: tenor, soprano sax, clarinet; Bart Defoort: tenor sax, clarinet; Bo Van der Werf: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Marc Godfroid, Lode Mertens, Frederik Heirman: trombone; Laurent Hendrick: bass trombone; Peter Hertmans: guitar; Nathalie Loriers: piano; Jos Machtel: bass; Martijn Vink: drums.

Play That Thing

Tracks: Maiden Voyage; Play That Thing; Dawn to Dawn in the City; Quascau; Prince of Darkness; Gonna Getcha; Things Ain't What They Seem; Stompin' at the Savoy.

Personnel: Rick Wald: composer, arranger, leader, alto sax (4); Earl Gardner, Seneca Black, John Eckert, Jack Walrath: trumpet; Lou Marini: alto, soprano sax, flute; Loren Stillman: alto sax, flute; Ted Nash: tenor sax, flute; Adam Kolker: tenor sax, clarinet; Terry Goss: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Sam Burtis, Noah Bless, Art Baron: trombone; George Flynn: bass trombone; Ted Kooshian: piano; Chip Jackson, Dennis Irwin (5): bass; Jeff Brillinger: drums.

Remembering Russ

Tracks: Samba de Vida; From Me to You; Band Aid; Night Town; One on One; When Love Was Lost and Found; Run, Run, Run; Peace for Russ; Music Is Forever.

Personnel: Nathan Tanouye: leader, arranger, trombone; Dan Falcone, Gil Kaupp, Gary Cordell, Glenn Colby: trumpet, flugelhorn; Phil Wigfall, Marc Solis: alto, soprano sax; Wayne de Silva (4,9), Rusty Blevins, Matt Taylor (3,5,8): tenor sax, clarinet; Marty Radunz (2,6,7): tenor sax, clarinet, oboe; Rob Mader: baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet; Bonnie Butler Tanouye (1,2,4,6-9): flute; Dick McGee, Kevin Stout: trombone; Mike Dobranski (1,2,4,6-9), Sonny Hernandez (3,5): bass trombone; Chris Castellanos: horn; David Loeb (1-3,5,6,8), Mike Eckroth (4,7,9): piano; Morrie Louden (1,2,4,6,7,9), Derek Jones (3,5,8): bass; John Abraham (1-3,5,6,8), George Bryant (4,7,9): drums; Gabriel Falcon (1-3): percussion; Rebecca Ramsey, James Harvey, Martha Gronemeier, Shakeh Ghoukasian, Abe Gumroyan, Lauren Jackson, Jody Taylor: violin; Mary Trimble, Sharon Street-Caldwell: viola; Moonlight Tran, Barbara Gurley: cello; Kim DeLibero: harp. Special guests—Bobby Shew (8): flugelhorn; Alicia Cunningham, Don Cunningham, Martin Nievera; vocals.

With All My Love

Tracks: Mambo Wambo; With All My Love; Biscayne Bay; Monk's Mood; I Love Lucy; Opus de Funk; Quiet; Rice & Beans; Jinrikisha; Hike.

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