If you like your big band charts clean, fresh and tasty, here’s a band after your own heart. Michael Treni does the conducting, arranging, ‘bone playing and some of the composing on this cooking disc with an 18 piece big band. Charts like the one on Bernstein’s “Something’s Coming” or Strayhorn’s “UMMG” have some marvelous section work, while the woodwinds on the shuffling title track are brisk and slick.
“Lullabye in Birdland” has some great sax work, with Jerry Bergonzi’s presence a real plus, and the rhythm section gets nice and funky on “What is the World Coming To” before the disc closes with a gracious “Here’s That Rainy Day” that includes thoughtful strings. Nothing earth shattering, but definitely satisfying.