Secular Breathing

This reviewer has had a favorite jazz label for a while now. I don't care what re-releases MCA and the big boys may come out with. Give me Origin Records and their constantly updated catalog every time. New material. Hot, or smooth, or big sound. Doesn't matter. Whoever makes the decisions about what gets sent to stores is a jazz lover. You can tell. Also by the length of these cds. 30 minutes to Origin means one track. Try 70+ minute cds, like the new Jim Knapp.

All arrangements by Jim, almost all tunes by him:

Kennewick, Man
Combos in Indiana
Moon and Sand
G, Baby
Nanna's Lied
Secular Breathing
Home
Buddha Bang
Kreuzberg Soliloquy
Laura Mae's Getaway

At times he comes across as somewhere between Henry Mancini and Ira Newborn. That energetic horn pronouncement that doesn't believe in vacationing from the action. The 6+ minute 'Combos in Indiana' is just that, with some clever piano breaks to cool a moment down without stopping.

The orchestra includes

Mark Taylor - saxes, flute
Saul Cline - saxes
Rob Davis - ten. sax
Greg Metcalf - bar. sax, clarinet
Brad Allison, Ingrid Jensen, Jack Halsey - trumpets, flugelhorns
Karen Halsey - French horn
Jeff Hay - trombone
Greg Schroeder - bass trombone
John Hansen - piano
Phil Sparks - bass
Jon Wikan - drums

Lots of blow. Like the old days. When the band leader was just the band leader and arranger. But the sounds are cool and expertly mixed. If you like the brass jazz sound, I doubt you can find a word against this album. Go get it, baby.