Composer and conductor Vince Mendoza brings together the Metropole Orkeest with some all stars on this exciting meld of big band and post bop. The list of guests is indeed impressive, including Chris Potter/ts-ss, Dave Binney/as, Alex Acuna/perc, Ramon Stagnaro/perc and vocalists Dianne Reeves and Cecile McLorin Salvant.
The ladies are fitted well to their tones and styles, with Reeves earthy and upbeat on “Esperanto” and Salvznt wispy and moody around the woodwinds on “House of Reflections. Potter’s soprano sears through the charging “Quixote” while his tenor is soulful around the mix of strings and brass on the soulful “Big Night”. Binney is a powerful force, giving a white hot solo after the brassy processional of “Lake Fire” and leading the charge on the dramatic “Bright Lights and Barcelona”. Charts with the notes jumping off the paper.