Dan Bonsanti and the 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands

"Islands" from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats.

The opener, McCoy Tyner's "Man from Tanganyika" is an ultra-rhythmic grabber, offering fine solos and polyrhythmic burn. "Islands," from Mike Mainieri's pen, is a catchy, upbeat calypso with an extravagant middle section. "Bud Powell," is a certified bebop stroller from Chick Corea, featuring solos from Ed Maina, Jason Carder and Mike Levine. Levine's composed "Part of Me" is a slick "All of Me" clone contemporized with the ensemble contrapuntally stating.

The arrangements from Bonsanti, Mike Levine, and the late Tom Boras are colorful without being overly complicated. They are such that the group sounds larger than it really is. The writers have a wizard's touch in terms of pairings, orchestrated textures, and combinations. Woodwinds mingle and marry with other sections in colors galore. The ensemble, while recorded remotely, is tight and buys into the session with obvious delight. Miami sax legend Ed Calle gets featured solo billing and, as expected of this master, delivers the goods. There are other great solo standouts here, including trumpeter Jason Carder, Mike Manieri, and Mark Levine. The various rhythm sections sparkle, with guests Peter Erskine and Will Lee chiming in.

Levine's "Carmencita" is a darker, faster Latin groove with blue fire and a fine piano solo. Pat Metheny's "Missouri Uncompromised" flitters speedily with vibes and flute handling melodic honors. "Jitterbug Waltz," from the Fats Waller canon, is a reed doublers' playground. Bass revolutionary Jaco Pastorius is saluted here eponymously with a ¾ blue-ish statement on "Jaco." The ballad "Some Other Time" is a trumpet feature tastefully played by Jason Carder. "Loft Dance" is a wild Afro-Cuban head-shaker from Dave Liebman who guests. Randy Newman's folksy "When She Loved Me" with Lindsay Blair's guitar spotlit, closes the session in elegant style.

"Islands" is a most satisfying album of highly diverse grooves and textures from leader Bonsanti and his cadre of superb musicians and arrangers.

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