The ensemble is trim and well-rehearsed, the soloists lively and industrious, especially Ferguson, alto / soprano Billy Wolfe, trumpeter Jason Ferrell (featured on "Lyric for a Jazzman"), guitarist Kirk Schoenherr and trombonist Joel Senkar. Even though this is for the most part a studio session, you can sense that the audiences on the ensemble's European tour in 2006 must have been duly impressed.

Tracks and Personnel

Hold On

Tracks: Good Question; For Thomas; Hold On; Sicilienne / Greensleeves; Opposites Attract; A Night to Remember; Pretty Little Gypsy / Chuggin'; On Perry Street; RBHM—KNNK; The Clefs Visit Grandma's; Knitwit for Tara.

Personnel: Fred Hess: composer, arranger, leader, tenor sax; Tyler Gilmore: conductor; Brad Goode, Dave Rajewski, Al Hood, Ron Miles: trumpet; John Gunther, Johan Eriksson: alto sax; Dominic Lalli: tenor sax; Mark Harris: baritone sax; Tom Ball, Nelson Hinds, Hoyt Andres: trombone; Gary Mayne: bass trombone; Marc Sabatella: piano; Ken Filiano: bass; Matt Wilson: drums.

Live @ Timucua

Tracks: Out of Nowhere; Blues for Two; Cycles I; Cycles II; Dindi; Yes or No; Morning Moonset; Fanny's Blues; Rupture; Sorry to Lose You; Marche pour L'Enfer.

Personnel: Benoit Glazer: composer, conductor, trumpet, percussion; Chad Shoopman, Bob Franklin, Mike Iapichino, Tom Parmerter: trumpet; Eddie Marshall, Jeff Rupert, Alain Bradette (1-4, 6-9), Tom Dietz, Rose Rottmayer, David MacKenzie (5, 10, 11): reeds; Keith Oshiro, Claire Courchene (5, 7, 8-11), James Hosmer, Dean Dukes (1-4, 6), Tony Hill, Will Nestler: trombone; Marissa Zambito, Juan Berrios, Camille Glazer (5): horns; Bobby Koelble: guitar; Chris Rottmayer: piano; Chuck Archard: bass; Keith Wilson: drums.

Turnaround

Tracks: Turnaround; Lady Mariko; Unity; Blues for Charlie; Tender Moments; Tenor-Brio; Bone Happy; Awhile.

Personnel: Tracks 1, 2, 4-7: Michael Treni: composer, arranger, conductor, trombone (7); Bill Ash, Kevin Bryan, Vinnie Cutro: trumpet; Chris Persad: flugelhorn; Sal Spicola, alto sax, flute, clarinet; Craig Yaremko: alto sax, flute; Jerry Bergonzi: tenor sax; Frank Elmo: tenor, soprano sax, clarinet; Roy Nicolosi: baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet; Matt Bilyk, Bob Ferrel, Dave Gibson: trombone; Philip Jones: bass trombone; Charles Blenzig: piano; Takashi Otsuka: bass; Ron Vincent: drums; David Belmont, Rick Dekovessey, Matthew Nicolosi, Roy Nicolosi: percussion; Faina Agranov, Ina Berkhin (2): violin; Susan O'Connor (2): viola; Jeffrey Szabo (2): cello. Tracks 3, 8: Michael Treni: composer, arranger, conductor; Bill Ash, Kevin Bryan, Vinnie Cutro, Mike Ponella: trumpet; Sal Spicola: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Gerry Niewood: alto, soprano sax, flute; Larry Puentes: tenor sax, clarinet; Rich Reiter: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Roy Nicolosi: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Steve Austin, Matt Bilyk, Conrad Zulaf: trombone; Philip Jones: bass trombone; Charles Blenzig: piano; Takashi Otsuka: bass; Ron Vincent: drums.

Soul Searching

Tracks: Laura; Yes or No; Cerulean Skies; Sumo; John Coltrane Suite: Looking Back; Soul Searching; Concerto to End All Concertos.

Personnel: Robert Baca: director; Chris Bresette, Tom Krochock, John Raymond, Josh Pauly, Josh Nims: trumpet; Jim Geddes, Corey Cunningham: alto sax; Evan Benidt, Aaron Hedenstrom: tenor sax; Brian Handeland: baritone sax; Kyle Siegrist, Rachel Carter, Matt Hiel, Justin Verhasselt: trombone; Michael Wolter: guitar; Brandon Covelli: piano; Andrew Detra: bass; Kyle Good, Brian Claxton: drums.

Bright Moments

Tracks: The Intrepid Fox; Someday My Prince Will Come; Tuesday; Bright Moments; Windmills of Your Mind; I've Got You Under My Skin; Li'l Darlin'; Ceora; Who Can I Turn To?; Prisoner of a Dream; Earth, Wind and Fire Medley #2; Sophisticated Ladies; Let's Face the Music and Dance.

Personnel: Fred Irby III: director; Kieron Irvine, Rashid Hughes, Donvonte McCoy, Norberto Mejicanos, Wesley Meyer, Malcolm Stokes, Danielle Ashton: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brent Birckhead: alto, soprano sax; Michael Brandon: alto sax; Isaiah Allen, Elijah Balbed, David Onley: tenor sax; Ashton Vines: tenor, alto sax; Harry Taylor: baritone sax; Seth Rees, Richard Milburn Jr., Christopher Steele: trombone; Timothy Johnson, Matthew Caraballo: bass trombone; Amy Bormet: piano, Fender Rhodes; Joshua Walker: guitar; Karine Chapdelaine, Jarrin Moore: acoustic, electric bass; Carroll V. Dashiell III, Ashton Fuller: drums.

The Life of Swing

Tracks: Swinging for the Fences; Samantha; Nica's Dream; Angel Eyes; Fever; There's the Rub; Emily; That's Life; From East to West; Love for Sale.

Personnel: Ronald Carter: director; Ralph Disylvestro, Albert Strong, Chris Davis, John Moore, Max Kiesner: trumpet; Greg Ward, Mai Sugimoto, Robert Collazo, Donnie Norton, Nate Heffron: reeds; David Stamps, Andy Strode, Brett Marcum, Matt Taylor: trombone; Sean Higgins: piano; Nick Fryer: guitar; Josh Ramos: bass; Iajhi Hampden, Phil Beale: drums; Catherine Moody: vocals.

Swingin' Our Way Through Europe

comments powered by Disqus