Big bands with sounds old and new.
Playing alto sax, flute and clarinet, Eyal Vilner leads a big band through his fresh arrangements of songs both old and new reflecting the swing era. There’s a nice R&B feel to pieces like “Chickn An’ Dumplings” , and the band grooves well on “Hellsapoppin”. Vocalist Imani Rousselle is sassy on the jumper “Is You Is Or Is You AIn’t” and is confident on “Swing Brother Swing” , while cooing on “Tell Me Pretty Baby”. Bring your dancing shoes.
Bassist Peter Vuust puts together a modern sounding 16 member orchestra that focuses on original material. The bass of either Vuust or Frederik Sakham is featured prominently, especially on some intros, as on the rocking “Marrakech” and the dramatic “Homesick” with some nimble work with pianist Mads Baerentzen on the classy “The Naked Trees”. The flutes hover around a gospel-ish “The End Of A Perfect Day” and the reeds are rich on “Young Blue Eyes”. Fresh charts on navigitable waters.