Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra: Tenor Madness

Nashville-based composer, arranger and saxophonist Ryan Middagh salutes apostles of the mid-range wind instrument on Tenor Madness, his second recording as leader of the Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra. Even so, there are no tenor solos after the first three of the album's half-dozen numbers, on which tenors Don Aliquo and Jeff Coffin ("Wiley Roots"), Aliquo again ("Waiter, Make Mine Blues"), Coffin and New York luminary Joel Frahm—who together galvanize the album's robust title song—are featured.

While the tenors play their usual eloquent role on the other tracks, solo duties there are divided among alto Jovan Quallo and pianist Pat Coil ("Cry Me a River"), trombonist Jeremy Wilson and Middagh himself (baritone sax) on the standard "This Time the Dream's on Me," alto Alex Graham and drummer Marc Widenhofer on Graham's forceful closer, "Wired." Besides writing the persuasive "Wiley Roots," Middagh arranged every number on the concise (37-minute) studio date.

Although her name is not listed anywhere on the album's jacket, Jenna McLean sings quite respectably on "Waiter, Make Mine Blues" and the Julie London staple "Cry Me a River," on the first of which Aliquo delivers a nimble and eloquent solo. The orchestra itself is staunch and well-rehearsed, as is true of almost every large ensemble of late, while Middagh's charts are by and large engaging albeit a step or two removed from memorable. Tenor Madness is a solid big-band outing whose brighter moments help make the entire package worth unwrapping.

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