Shifty Paradigms

Classy modern big band charts are delivered by composer/arranger Dave Slonaker and his tgeam of LA All Stars. The sections are rich and wondrous throughout, hip as all get out around Tom Luer's tenor sax on "Dash Cam" while a "All Blues"y tilt on "Bye Bye Blues" goes 6/8 around Ron Stouts' Milesy trumpet. The brass goes into a rich fanfare on the declaratory "3rd and Four" while drummer Peter Erskine builds up the groove under Brian Scanlon's alto sax on "Comin' Home"; he also gets a chance to shine during his spotlight on "Roundabout".

The sections punch back and forth like middleweights on "Shifty Paradigms" as Bob Sheppard's soprano sears through the horns, and the woodwinds are velvety as they coo under Edwin Livington's bass as just about everyone gets a chance in the spotlight on "Blue Windows". Slonaker spares a paradigms.