USAF Airmen of Note: Aim High/The 2024 Jazz Heritage Series

Aim High, recorded as part of the 2024 Jazz Heritage Series, is the forty-sixth album by the U.S. armed services' premier jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note, founded in 1950 to honor the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Corps dance band, which entertained the troops during World War II until Miller's untimely death in 1944. Those who have heard no more than one of those recordings would no doubt agree that any accolades aimed at the AON have been readily earned, as an unremitting standard of proficiency and excellence has been firmly in place from its baptism. Sammy Nestico was one of the band's early arrangers, and its more well-known alumni include Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau, Vaughn Nark, Allen Vizzutti, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Dave Steinmeyer.

Like all concerts by service bands, the Jazz Heritage series, begun in 1990, is free to the public, which would be a bargain even if those ensembles were not among the country's best. But they are. No one simply walks into an AON rehearsal and takes a seat; he or she must audition for a chair. Those who pass those exams are the best of the best, an opinion that is borne out immediately on Aim High, which consists of nine radiant yet challenging arrangements, three each by multi-instrumentalist Gordon Goodwin and bassist Rodney Whitaker and a pair by trumpeter Jon Faddis, in that order. The last number, "Things to Come," was written by Dizzy Gillespie and arranged by Gil Fuller. That the AON has no problem unraveling any of them is all that anyone need know about the superior level of musicianship displayed by the ensemble, individually and collectively. And every number was performed for an audience, with no do-overs or safety net.

The concert opens with a flat-out burner, Goodwin's "Don't Blink," followed by his medium-tempo charmer, "Second Chances," and frolicsome, fast-paced "Hunting Wabbits," the last inspired by the zany Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cartoons once produced by Warner Brothers. Pianist Chris Ziemba solos on "Don't Blink," flugel Logan Keese and alto Kristian Baarsvik or Mike Cemprola (not designated) on "Second Chances," Cemprola, Ziemba and trombonist Jonathan Campbell on "Hunting Wabbits." Whitaker's "A Mother's Cry" opens, appropriately, with his resonant solo bass before transitioning to strong and eloquent ensemble passages, supporting impressive solos by guitarist Geoff Reecer, soprano Baarsvik, tenor Grant Langford, Whitaker and drummer Kevin McDonald. Campbell's fluent trombone is showcased (with Whitaker playing arco and open) on the easygoing "Darr Niles," Ziemba, McDonald, baritone Seth Ebersole and trumpeter Luke Brandon on the rhythmically and harmonically enchanting hummer, "Woman Child."

Faddis is featured on his compositions, the dynamic "Hey Lalo!" and sublime "Waltz for My Fathers and Brothers" (both arranged by Michael Philip Mossman), as well as on Gillespie's ferocious, chops-busting workout, "Things to Come." Trombonist Matt Hetwer also solos on "Lalo!," bassist Ben Thomas on "Waltz," trombonist Kevin Cerovich and tenor Tedd Baker on "Things to Come." While Faddis is now a masterful veteran, not the celebrated young lion he once was, time has only sharpened his edge and deepened his perception. In other words, he is playing as well as ever, if not even more splendidly than in years past. The same can be said of the Airmen of Note, now a venerable seventy-four years old but as sharp and spunky as ever. Whatever their purpose, the Airmen always Aim High, and invariably split the target dead center with the first well-aimed volley.