East West: Music for Big Bands

Tenor saxist and leader Michael Zilber delivers two different big bands, one from the East Coast and the other from San Francisco on this two disc set. The "East" team has some nice mysterious work on the Wayne Shorter piece"Fall" with bold brass punching away on "Joshua". Tough tenors go gunning on "The Breckerfast Club" and an elegiac "Fantasia on Trane Changes" is a lithe delight. The "West" Team has some searing sax work on the tribute to Shorter on "Weather Wayne" and lovely floating alto saxes for "St. Paul" with a clever use of brass on The Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Nothing to dance to, but lots to imbibe.