Ballet of the Bouncing Beagles

Somebody out there needs to give some high fives to Phil Kelly. Really, it's not very common these days for anyone to release a big band CD this good. And why? Well, among a plethora of highly skilled band barons, a few of the all-star types include Jay Thomas, trumpet; Jerry Dodgion, alto; Pete Christlieb, tenor; Bill Ramsay, baritone; Dave Marriott, trombone; John Hansen, piano, and two Portland faves, Dave Captein, bass, and Gary Hobbs, drums. You'll know from opening notes of" Play Tonic Buds," a rewrite of "Just Friends," that this is a sharply honed aggregation playing stimulating charts and featuring cracker-jack soloists. An album highlight was the only standard on the bill, "Limehouse Blues," played with vigor and musicianship worthy of a fella named Basie. The title tune is named for Kelly's two beagles who were apparently caught on camera in mid-romp, mid-air. And so it goes through a tour of Kelly's scintillating, bright originals. Kelly, a resident of the Seattle area, calls his band The Northwest Prevailing Winds. And prevail they do!