Composer and trombonist Ben Patterson puts together a modern sounding big band through some swinging originals. The charts give a hint of Count Basie, as the sections jab from the side like a middleweight boxer on the Rat Packish “The Mixup” featuring the tenor saxes of Tedd Baker and Xavier Perez”. Likewise the reeds are velvety and brass polished as they warmly frame Patterson’s trombone on “Anne Marie” and they create bold declarations around Shawn Purcell’s guitar on the snappy “We’re Back Baby”. The rhythm team of Todd Harrison/dr and Paul Henry/b dig in to the bluesy “Just ‘Cuz” and create a n Afro Cuban mood with Fran Vielma’s percussion on the rollicking “The Misinformation Age”, while baritone saxist Doug Morgan gives an aria on the lush and bold “Always”. Holding lightly to the past, and boldly charging forward.