Ray Anderson - Big Band Record (1994) FLAC

Ray Anderson has nine of his originals performed by the 17-piece George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band on this Gramavision CD and the results are quite spirited and very satisfying. The often riotous trombonist is fortunate to have his complex but always lively music interpreted by quite an all-star group and Gruntz's arrangements give each musician at least one opportunity to solo. When one considers that the orchestra contains such individualists as trumpeters Lew Soloff, Ryan Kisor, John D'Earth, and Herb Robertson; altoist Tim Berne; Marty Ehrlich on several reeds; Ellery Eskelin on tenor; and violinist Mark Feldman, it is little surprise that this was one of the top jazz albums released in 1994.