Jim Manley: Splendor in the Brass 2

There are several reasons for the improvement. First, Splendor 2 is better recorded than its precursor, which certainly enhances one's pleasure. Second, Manley has ensured greater variety by singling out various sections of the band—trumpets ("Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me, "Lullaby of Birdland ), trombones ("When Sunny Gets Blue, "Triste ), saxophones ("Alone Together, "Easy Living )—and showcasing his horn in front of them. Third, Manley has enlisted the services of the renowned guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, who sweetens the pot with tantalizing solos on five numbers. Pizzarelli and Manley comprise a persuasive duet on a reprise of "Sunny, as do the trumpeter and pianist Jim Owens on "For Maynard, Manley's warm-hearted homage to his mentor, the late monarch of the high C's, Maynard Ferguson.

The full band is heard on "What Is This Thing Called Love, "Soft Winds, "Mas Que Nada and "Lover Come Back to Me, and there are admirable solos on those selections and elsewhere by Owens (on trombone) and fellow trombonist Brett Stamps; saxophonists Aaron Lehde, Larry Smith and Larry Johnson; pianists John Pyatt and Carolbeth True, guitarist Bob Borgstede and bassist Zeb Briscovich. For his part, Manley has no trouble nailing the high notes when necessary, but sees fit to cruise on a more even keel most of the time. The charts are first-rate, especially the four by Owens ("Mas Que Nada, "Sunny, "Easy Living, "Triste ). Manley arranged "Do Nothin', Brett Spainhour "What Is This Thing, Steve Hoover "Soft Winds, Jeff Fairbanks "Alone Together, co-lead trumpeter Frank Goessler "Lover Come Back.

When all the chips have been cashed, the payoff is that Splendor 2 is positively splendid, a more than worthy scion to its progenitor. If nothing else, it should help neutralize the sort of halfhearted and generally slipshod enterprises that have been giving sequels a bad name.

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