MUSIC REVIEW BY George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Playing trombone as well as baritone sax, composer Michael Dease conducts his multi-faceted big band through a mix of originals and a couple standards, showing fresh ideas on either canvas. His baritone is a force of nature on the double-timed roller coaster ride of "Cherokee" while he glistens on a solo read of "Up South". The sections are dreamy, with some rich brass on "You Know I Love You", and the reeds deliver soft impressions on a hip read of the "Impressions" inspired "Little Dave" from JJ Johnson, with Dease delivering a hook slide. Bassist Jonathan Hilliard and piano man Max Gage show cleverness on "Shoreline" and guitarist Zach Sommerfeld gets bluesy on "Oasis". An upward trajectory and projection.
