Pianist/keyboardist Ben Markley leads a 17 piece big band through seven original pieces, all filled with impressive and creative section work and well delivered solos. The horns are big, bold and brassy as they punch through solos by Will Swindler/as and drummer Ari Hoenig on “Birdless” while the leader swings around Hoenig’s shuffle on “Bert’s Playground”. The sections get kinetic as they carom around on “Arrows and Loops” while guitarist Steve Kovalcheck rocks and brings some wacka-wooka funk factor to “Green Spleen” and flows around the modern harmonies of “Lyric”. Drummer Hoenig rides the team like Walter Brennan on a mule team, keeping everyone moving forward. Swinging primary colors