George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band - Global Excellence (2001)

George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band is in particularly spirited form throughout Global Excellence. Among the high points are the "I Got Rhythm"-based jam on "Steam Passage" featuring the tenors of Larry Schneider, Sal Giorgianni, and Donny McCaslin, trombonist Matthieu Michel's ballad feature on "Palace of Love," Renne Manning's singing on "Nee's Blues" (with Dave Bargeron adding some screaming trombone), and the eccentric closer "Brain Play." Although a couple of the selections on the middle of this disc are a little less interesting (sounding like fairly straightforward concert music), there are enough surprises and left turns throughout this boisterous affair to make Global Excellence highly recommended to fans of modern big bands.