Here’s a fun album that takes you through the history of jazz, as Doug Richards leads a big band through some clever arrangements of jazz standards. He delivers things like a kaleidoscopic read of “In the Mood” with lots of harmonic gestures, while “Cherokee” teams up John D’earth’s trumpet and Skip Gailes’ tenor sax with some prismatic variances. Vocalist Rene Marie guests for a rich read of “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine” and a playful “AIn’t Misbehavin’” while Jon Faddis is clarion clear with his trumpet for his tribute to Louis Armstrong during “Stardust” and “West End Blues.” Joe Kennedy’s violin adds pizzaz to “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” and the band makes it all the way to bebop on the closing tribute to Charlie Parker on ”Bird Blues” with Marty Nau, John Winn, Rob Holmes and Skip Gailes all contributing ornithological alto solos. Lots of fun mixing the vintage with the new.
Jazzed Media