Vol. 1 opens in a dynamic groove with Don Menza Don Menza
b.1936
saxophone 's "Tonawanda Fats," featuring trombonist Per Haglind and soprano saxophonist Patrik Engelbert, then moves on to trumpeter Joachim Tromark's enchanting "Waltz for Bobby," written for American trumpet maestro Bobby Shew Bobby Shew
b.1941
trumpet who has performed more than once with Sandviken including its thirtieth anniversary concert. The two albums, in fact, have Shew in common, as Tromark, who is front and center with guitarist Goran Berencreutz on "Waltz," solos again on Vol. 2 on Shew's serenade, "Blue." A trio of guest artists enlivens Vol. 1: the superb tenor saxophonist Fredrik Nordstrom Fredrik Nordstrom
, showcased on his ballad, "Falling," as well as on another waltz, "Gammelfarfars Mormorsvals," written by fellow guest Patrik Skogh (who solos adroitly on trumpet), and vocalist Linda Pettersson-Bratt, splendid on Mikael Raberg's brisk arrangement of Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean." Along the way, the band interposes a pair of Pat Metheny Pat Metheny
b.1954
guitar 's eloquent compositions, "It's Just Talk" and "Every Summer Night," both smartly arranged by Bob Curnow Bob Curnow
. "Talk" features pianist Arnold Rodriguez and tenor Patric Lundstedt, "Summer Night" Berencreutz and Tromark (on flugel, as he is on Tom Kubis Tom Kubis
' even-tempered "Hospital Blues"). Completing the program are the standards "Don't Go to Strangers" (Lundstedt, tenor) and "The Way You Look Tonight" (Berencreutz, alto Adam Dahlberg).

The classically trained Andersson, a star in Sweden for more than three decades, is the main man on Vol. 2, soloing on all but one number ("Blue"). He settles comfortably into the swing milieu, awakening fond memories of Artie Shaw Artie Shaw
1910 - 2004
clarinet , Benny Goodman Benny Goodman
1909 - 1986
clarinet and Sweden's other grand master of the clarinet, the late Putte Wickman Putte Wickman
b.1924 , on such Swing Era favorites as "Let's Dance," "Stealin' Apples," Lester Young's "Tickle Toe" and Shaw's eerie theme, "Nightmare." Also on the menu are Bengt Hallberg Bengt Hallberg
b.1932
piano 's "Clarinet Swing," Eddie Sauter Eddie Sauter
b.1914 's "The Maid with the Flaccid Air," Toots Thielemans Toots Thielemans
b.1922
harmonica ' lyrical "Bluesette," Gordon Jenkins' mournful "Goodbye" and the standards "Like Someone in Love" and "S'wonderful." Even though Andersson takes most of the solos, there's enough space left for brief but effective statements by Tromark, Lundstedt, Engelbert, Haglind, pianist Thomas Jutterstrom, bassist Rasmus Diamant and drummer Rolf Andersson.

If your taste leans more to contemporary themes, Vol. 1 may suit you to a T. If, on the other hand, swing is your thing, Vol. 2 should set your toes to tapping and put a lasting smile on your face. Either way, you can't go wrong with the Sandviken Big Band, among the best in any clime or on any continent.

Millikin University Jazz Band
Vera Cruz
First Step Records
2013

In spite of gloomy manifestos forecasting its imminent demise, jazz continues to play a vibrant and important role in colleges and universities across the country, even relatively small liberal arts institutions such as Millikin University, ensconced in rural Macon County southwest of Chicago. Not only does Millikin have a music department with more than three hundred students, it has a jazz band, directed by Randall Reyman, that has earned plaudits at a number of festivals and recorded four albums, the most recent of which is Vera Cruz. The school's recording studio and School of Music Center were renovated in 1998-2000 thanks in part to an $8 million grant from C.D. "Perk" Perkinson, for whom it is named and to whom the album is dedicated, and his wife, Pat.

Vera Cruz makes an auspicious start thanks to a charming guitar / bass intro to Miles Davis Miles Davis
1926 - 1991
trumpet ' "Seven Steps to Heaven," a tasteful chart by Emil Richards Emil Richards
b.1932 that features vibraphonist Simon Nicholson and drummer Sean McDonald. Clarinetist John Gorecki is pleasingly showcased on Mark Taylor Mark Taylor
b.1961
french horn 's "Love Beams," alto Adam Blakey is impressive on Quincy Jones Quincy Jones
b.1933
producer ' seductive "Quintessence," guitarist Jacob Widenhofer likewise on Pat Metheny Pat Metheny
b.1954
guitar 's "Another Life," arranged for large ensemble by Bob Curnow. Another highlight is Don Schamber's buoyant arrangement of the Gershwin brothers' "Soon," on which Widenhofer, Nicholson and tenor Ethan Hayward score bonus points. Reyman arranged Dave Holland Dave Holland
b.1946
bass 's rhythmic "Prime Directive," whose agile soloists are Blakey and trumpeter Kyle Nicholson. Vocalist Alexandra Manfredo is heard from twice, on the title song and Bill Holman Bill Holman
b.1927
band/orchestra 's high-powered arrangement of the standard "Deed I Do." Although she's passable, one has to do more than sing on key to make a lasting impression.

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