Swiss Jazz Orchestra: Swiss Jazz Orchestra: Sincerely Yours

The world-class Swiss Jazz Orchestra produced the 2-CD set Sincerely Yours to mark its tenth anniversary in 2013. As is the SJO's custom, the nineteen tracks were taped during a series of stellar concert performances spanning those years, showcasing the orchestra's excellence as a unit and its roster of impressive soloists performing compositions and arrangements by some of the brightest stars, past and present, in the jazz firmament. And even though the ensemble needs no help, a number of renowned guests stop by to add their sizable talents to the mix: alto saxophonist George Robert ("Missing You"), trumpeter Bert Joris and tenor Andy Scherrer ("Mr. Dodo"), vocalist Sandy Patton ("Lover Come Back to Me"), tenor Nicolas Masson ("Boomerang") and a couple of well-known Americans, tenor Jerry Bergonzi and alto Dick Oatts (Thad Jones' "Fingers").

Among the more popular jazz themes are those by Thelonious Monk ("Straight, No Chaser"), Herbie Hancock ("Maiden Voyage") and Sammy Nestico ("Have a Nice Day"). Bob Brookmeyer penned the delightful "Samba Con Getchu" and lyrical "Cameo," Dave Brubeck "Bossa Nova USA," Scott Henderson the forward-leaning "Dolemite." Maynard Ferguson and son-in-law Christian Jacob co-wrote the funky "Footpath Café." The orchestra opens Disc 1 with the standard "All of Me," arranged by Billy Byers for the Count Basie Orchestra. Other evergreens, all on Disc 2, are "Lover Come Back to Me," Henry Mancini's "Days of Wine and Roses" (arranged by Maria Schneider) and Hoagy Carmichael's enchanting "Skylark" (scored by Brookmeyer). Robert wrote "Missing You," Joris "Mr. Dodo," Masson "Boomerang." Thad Jones also composed the gospel-inflected "US" (featuring Marc Schodler's muscular baritone sax). Completing the program (Disc 2) is Jamie Silva / Neuza Teixiera's Brazilian (or Portuguese) charmer, "O Pato" (The Duck).

At risk of belaboring the point, it is worth reiterating that SJO's choice of material is superb—and as for the orchestra's soloists, it's hard to say enough good things about them, as every one is outstanding (even though Oatts and Bergonzi set the bar outrageously high on "Fingers"). Besides Schodler and the various guests, those given their own roadway to traverse include pianist Philip Henzi ("All of Me"), valve trombonist Stefan Schlegel ("Cameo"), alto Reto Suhner ("Skylark") and trombonist Andreas Tschopp ("Footpath Café"). Others who are no less persuasive include trumpeters Johannes Walter, Lukas Thoni, Thomas Knuchel and Daniel Woodtli, guitarists Nick Perrin and Nikolay Karageorgiev, soprano Adrian Pflugshaupt, alto Jorg Bucher, tenor Till Grunewald, trombonist Vincent Lachat and drummer Tobias Friedli.

Far more than an anniversary keepsake, Sincerely Yours is a consistently sharp and engaging survey of one of the world's foremost contemporary big bands, performing without a safety net over a span of nearly a decade. Sonics are generally excellent, playing times more than generous. Well worth seeking out.

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