I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Islands, by Dan Bonsanti and The 14 Jazz Orchestra and it's strong. Opening with Tyner's Man From Tanganyika, Peter Erskine on drums and Dennis Marks on bass set the pace. Ed Maina on flute (solo), and alto sax, Peter Brewer on tenor sax, flute and clarinet, Ed Calle on tenor sax (solo) and flutes, Mike Brignola on Bari sax, flutes and bass clarinet, set the melody and Mike Levine takes the first solo on piano. Brett Murphy, Jason Carder and John Lovell on trumpet and Dan Teboe, Dante Luciani (solo), Major Bailey (bass) and Dan Bonsanti (including tuba emulation) on trombone really swing. with excellent solos. Really nice opener. With plenty of punch, Corea's, Bud Powell, really excels with the front line of brass and Maina blows a great alto solo, Carder on trumpet and Levine on piano solo nicely as well, joined by Mike Harvey on drums, Lindsey Blair on guitar, and Jamie Ousley on bass. Levin original Carmencita has a great Latin rhythm fueled by Lee Levin on drums, Richard Bravo on percussion and Nicky Orta on bass. Ed Calle again really goes the extra mile on soprano sax supercharging the track and Levine's own piano so gives the track tremendous integral body. Excellent! Will Lee steps in on bass (solo) on Levin penned, Jaco. With a flowing melody and muted brass, Calle gets a nice opportunity to open up with a soulful tenor solo. Wrapping the release is Newman's, When She Loved Me, from Toy Story. Calle softy presents the melody on tenor sax and Mark Egan has a nice fretless bass solo, nicely complemented by Randy Bernsen on acoustic guitar. Nice closer for a really enjoyable release.
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