Without a Trace

This winter, a plethora of big band and orchestra CDs have crossed my desk. The Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra is another very fine example of precision arrangements and excellent musicianship in pursuance of jazz orchestration. From the first Latin strains of cut #1, "Speak Low," I was captivated. This familiar jazz standard features alto saxophonist Steve Wilson and trumpeter Chris Rogers. Each soloist is dynamic and technically astute. An Afro-Cuban rhythm stirs up the creativity and propels the orchestra. Thank you, Andy Watson on drums. Reeves has composed and arranged over half of the seven tunes on this production. His arrangements are lush and lovely, giving opportunity to his orchestra members to step forward and solo in meaningful ways. "Without a Trace" is an edgy tune with shocking intervals and a challenging melody. Carolyn Leonhart is featured vocalist and her soprano tones are expressive and pure. This is no easy melody to sing and I commend Leonhart's pitch and timing. Jim Ridl performs a masterful solo on piano. The mixologist did an extraordinary job of capturing all the orchestra's delicate nuances and packaging their energy appropriately. Tim Armacost on tenor saxophone puts the "S" in sexy during his solo, changing up the arrangement by interjecting a new mood with his horn.

Scott Reeves is a trombonist who also plays flugelhorn, composes, arranges, conducts and finds time to be an author and college jazz educator. His two books, "Creative Jazz Imrovisation" and "Creative Beginnings" are widely used texts in their field. He's a native of Chicago, Illinois and somehow finds time to perform regularly with the Dave Liebman Big Band, the Bill Mobley Big Band and the Valery Ponomarev Big Band. He often subs in a variety of orchestras, while keeping his own seventeen-piece jazz orchestra alive, well and working. You will find this album to be a treasure-trove of well-written original songs and arrangements, as well as a couple of familiar songs with refreshing and exploratory arrangements that celebrate Scott Reeves and his multi-talents at their best.