Seven, count ‘em, seven trombones make up the entire horn section for the rhythm team of Tony Nalker/p, Shawn Purcell-Jim Roberts/g, Paul Henry/b and Todd Harrison/dr to steer on this big, bold, ballsy and brassy collection of “big” band bravado. Three bass trombones (Jerry Armoury, Jeff Cortazzo, Matt Neff) team up with four tenors (Matt Niess, Jim McFalls, Jay Gibble, Zach Niess) to create some hip arrangements of modern tunes and some originals.
The horns meld like glorious light through a stained glass window as they show on their own without support on “Felicity” and a textured read of Ellington’s “Single Petal Of A Rose”. The team goes bel canto on a full bodied approach to The Beatles’ “Yesterday”, and show they know how to rock on the “Chicago Medley” and on the Coplandesque “Fanfare for the Capitol Bones”. The rhythm team shuffles hard on the macho “The Beat Goes On” and bops till they drop for “In Walked Horace”. This is a fun one, and if they ever do a gig, either sit in the front row to take it all in or way in the back if you want to avoid getting run over!