Arranger Jim McNeely brings together a 17-20 member big band as a support for tenor/soprano saxist Chris Potter, who also composed most of the pieces. The band and sound is highly reminiscent of vintage Stan Kenton, big, bold, bombastic and leaning towards a “jazz” version of “classical” music.
The reeds are moody and then bright for “Adoration” with Potter squawking out a solo intro to the blasting “Adoration III”. The flutes are bluesy on the swaying “Dawn”, with Potter sharing the spotlight with Steffen Weber and Tony Lakatos. On soprano, Potter is funky on “The Wheel” and jams with horn man Axel Scholler on “Okinawa” while the harmonics are panoramic on “Wine Dark Sea”. No vocals by Anita O’Day or June Christy?