Conductor and arranger Lisa Maxwell delivers some fun and feisty big band works on this collection of modern swingers with a vintage sound. The big band includes heavyweights Oz Noy/g, Mike Stern/g, Randy Brecker/tp and DannY Gottlieb/dr, and they flex plenty of muscle.
Some tracks such as “Israel” and “Shiny!” have a classic 60s spy thriller sound, with hip grooves and upbeat pulses along with some strong guitar solos by Oz Noy, Smoky Hornel and a vintage wah wah workout by Brecker. Dark shadows and a rocking noir atmosphere set the stage for Mike Stern’s strings on “Son of Creeper” with a breey and suave “Ludie” waltzing to Brecker’s flugelhorn. A 40s reed section swings with a clarinet lead on Maxwell Smartish “The Craw” and Mark Egan lays down a funky bass line for “Hello, Wayne?” Lots of fun, humor and bold oil color strokes on this easy to love session. When are they hitting LA?