One of the underappreciated big bands these days has to be the WDR Big Band. They just seem to be teamed with every solo star lately, ranging from Kurt Rosenwinkel to Maceo Parker. Bob Mintzer takes some time off from his stint with the Yellow Jackets to play tenor sax and EWI as well as conduct the 17 piece band with some old and new pieces, and the album is a hard hitting swinger.
It’s not the first time Mintzer as fronted a big band. Here, he brings up an old YJ tune “One Music” with some bold and macho work, along with the Buddy Rich alumnus giving a tribute to his late boss on “Stay Up” with Hans Dekker snapping out the ride cymbal groove. There’s a dash of vintage Weather Report with Mintzer on the EWI for the fusiony “A Reprieve” and some Latin pulsations on the Cuban “Montuno” and sizzling “Canyon Winds” with Mintzer’s EWI and tenor riding over Marcio Doctor’s percolating percussion. Wonderful woodwind soundscapes hover on “New Look” and a rich noir atmosphere made for a B movie takes place on the jabs of “Herky Jerky”.
Mintzer continues to move make exciting music, showing a rich palate of colors, both on this album and throughout is catalogue.