MUSIC REVIEW BY George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and arranger Mike Dana brings together a first-rate big band along with some all-star guests on this sleek and rich collection of originals. There are hints of Maria Schneider and Gil Evans here and there, with Dana adding his own tones, as on the deep reeded color of "You Don't Know What Love Is", featuring Aaron Janik's passionate trumpet. Tim Ries lends his tenor around Ron Suffredini's cascading bass line on a rich surf ride of "December", while Eric Marienthal digs in with his alto on a classy post bopper of "Confluential". The sections are bold and bopping to a hip swing, with Marienthal and Janik are joined by a bright and brilliant Wayne Bergeron on trumpet and Bob Mintzer blowing the tenor on a finger popping read of "The More I See You". Ingrid Jensen's trumpet work on "Elysian Shore" veers in and out of the band like a lead stallion, while the reeds rattle around the tricky turns of "Mi Respuesta". If these guys tour, someone let me know!
