1. Green Tea
2. Creepin'
3. African Skies
4. What's Going On
5. Wabash
6. How Do you Keep The Music Playing?
7. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
8. One Hand, One Heart
9. Look To The Sky
10. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Aaron Heick - Alto sax (tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 10), flute (track 8)
Andy Snitzer - Alto sax (tracks 1, 4, 6-8, 10)
David Mann - Alto sax (tracks 2, 4-9), flute (track 8)
Charles Pillow - Tenor sax (tracks 5, 6, 9), clarinet (track 8)
Jason Rigby - Tenor sax (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Janelle Reichmann - Tenor sax, clarinet (track 8)
Dave Reikenberg - Tenor sax (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Kenny Berger - Baritone sax (tracks 5, 6, 9), bass clarinet (track 8)
Tony Kadleck - Trumpet (tracks 1-3, 5-7, 9-10), flugelhorn (tracks 6, 8)
Jon Owens, James De La Garza - Trumpet
John Bailey - Trumpet (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Darryl Shaw - Trumpet (tracks 5, 6, 8, 9)
Alex Norris - Trumpet (tracks 6, 9)
Dylan Schwab - Trumpet (tracks 4, 8)
Michael Davis, Keith O'Quinn, John Wheeler, Randy Andos - Trombone
Henry Hey - Piano (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Mike Holober - Piano (tracks 5, 6, 8, 9)
Pete McCann - Guitar
David Finck - Bass
Dave Rarajczak - Drums (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10)
Mike Berkowitz - Drums (tracks 5, 6, 9)
Meyer Horn - Percussion (tracks 1, 3, 6-10)
Dan Rieser - Percussion (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9)
Randy Brecker - Trumpet (track 3)
Howard Horn, Meyer Horn, Alisa Horn, Jen Wharton, John Wheeler, Shelagh Abate, Tony Kadleck - Handclaps (all track 7)
Tony Kadleck is a vastly experienced trumpet player, a widely sought-after sideman, and, on this evidence, something of a star arranger, too. During his
long career, he has encompassed film music, Broadway shows, the world of pop and, of course, jazz. His list of credits and his discography are nothing
short of incredible in their scope. His most frequent collaborations on the jazz scene appear to have involved John Pizzarelli and also the Maria Schneider
Jazz Orchestra. On this occasion, he has assembled a big band from the pick of New York City session musicians and as a special guest on one of the tracks
he has Randy Brecker on trumpet. The choice of material reflects different aspects of Tony Kadleck's CV with, for instance, music composed by Marvin Gaye
and Stevie Wonder alongside that of Michel Legrand and Leonard Bernstein, while the music of jazz luminaries such as John Scofield, Michael Brecker and
Cannonball Adderley can also be found here. Given such strong themes and excellent charts, it's difficult not to be enthused by the playing of individual
soloists but also by the band in toto.
A few highlights, however. The late Michael Brecker's tune, African Skies, is an ideal vehicle to show off the band's strengths and Randy Brecker
delivers a spirited solo. Julian Adderley's Wabash fairly rocks along with David Mann and Aaron Heick playing off one another impressively and
there are some engaging riffs evident. If you like smooth old-style versions of standards, then I'm Getting Sentimental Over You will tick the
boxes for you. Incidentally, on that track, Michael Davis shows both elegance and attack (hear, too, his pure tone on Creepin'). Tony Kadleck is
modest in the amount of solo time he claims but when he does step into the limelight on flugelhorn and trumpet for How Do You Keep The Music Playing? or flugelhorn alone for One Hand, One Heart, he displays sensitivity and style. By the way,
the arrangement for that Bernstein classic is very imaginative and evokes the West Side Story setting of the original very well.
It's interesting that the band can bring to mind Herb Alpert at one moment (on John Scofield's Green Tea) and Stan Kenton at others (on One Hand, One Heart and through the sound of the brass section on Jobim's Look To The Sky). I guess, though, we are all the sum of our
influences, whether performers or listeners. This disc was in many ways a refreshing change and, for me at least, thoroughly enjoyable.
James Poore