Big band leader Dave Slonaker brings together a collection of some of the West Coast’s top session studs to interpret his charts and tunes on this collection of mostly originals. The only cover is a velvety rendition of “I Had The Craziest Dream” that gives trumpeter Wayne Bergeron a chance to give a rich aria. Many of the tunes have an Aaron Copland type of majesty, with rich section work on the swinging “Convergency” or elegiac harmonies on “A Gathering Circle”, both giving enough space for soloing by Bob Sheppard/as and Brian Scanlon/ss, respectively.
There’s a “So What-ish” pulse and mood to the bluesy “Sometimes A Notion” and a “Giant Steps” feel to the bopping “Duelity” and the Afro Cuban feel in “And Now The News” percolates for the trombone solos of Alex Iles, Charlie Morillas, Ido Meshulam and Bill Reichenbach. The band gives a rich mix of familiar thoughts and fresh colors. Impressive ideas!