One of the most versatile jazz artists, Bob Mintzer, continues to stretch into creative territories on this recent album. The Yellowjackets alumnus brings together a hard hitting big band which includes Roger Rosenberg/bs-cl and Bob Sheppard/ts-fl in order to support the creative vocals delivered by the New York Voices of Kim Nazarian, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader and Peter Eldridge.
The concept works well, with upbeat charts teaming with vocal and instrumental solos to weave in and out of the rich voices in harmony. The team sounds bold during “Autumn Leaves” with both Sheppard’s alto lead and solos by Narazarian and L inham, while the saxes lead by Rosenberg are sleek with Eldridge in front on “I Conceentrate On You.” Mintzer is peppy on his own “ Weird Blues” and “The Way You Look Tonight” while Eldridge is elegiac with pianist Phil Markowitz during “I Get Along Without You Very Well.” Mainstream, modern and musical. Any chances for live gigs?