The Mike Vax Big Band - Sounds From the Road (2009)

Tracklist

01. Alex's Tune
02. Seascape
03. La Virgen de la Macarena
04. Mr. Natural
05. Pennies From Heaven
06. I'm Glad There Is You
07. On a Slow Boat to China
08. Boney
09. Baubles, Bangles & Beads
10. Autumn in New York
11. Variations on a Brazilian Folk Song
12. Oblivion
13. Malaguena
14. All the Things You Are (Bonus Track)

Trumpeter Mike Vax leads a big band that includes a number of Stan Kenton alumni plus the late pianist Bob Florence on this live CD. While big bands are regularly dismissed as being irrelevant due to the prohibitive expense of touring, Vax proves otherwise with these excellent performances. Among the many highlights are Johnny Mandel's "Seascape," arranged by Kim Richmond (who also plays a sublime soprano sax solo), the easygoing Count Basie-flavored ballad "Mr. Natural," a percolating cha-cha arrangement of "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" and an explosive setting of "Malaguena." Bob Florence, who died a few days after a tour ended in 2008, is showcased in a poignant scoring of "All the Things You Are" and he shares the solo spotlight with composer/flügelhornist Steve Hufsteter in the breezy, Latin-flavored "Boney." This is a rewarding disc with no weak tracks.

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