Here’s a big band with a big and fresh sound. Joshua Shneider wrote and arranged all of the material, and conducts the band that not only is chock full of winds and brass, but includes Dave Stryker’s lithe guitar. The well crafter tunes such as “Dark Energy” saunters with some well harmonized horns, including some nice piano work by Bennett Paster and trombone soloing by Noah Bless. A latin-tinged “When Love Speaks” has a cooking little percussion groove along with vocals by Lucy Woodward, who’s also featured on the intimate “Lost in the Stars.” Stryker delivers the goods on the intriguing “Cute Little Nightmare” and the hip “Friction” while clever “Twinsville” features some warm trumpet playing form “Alex Norris.” No rehashing here-lots of great ideas filling the room.
BJU Records