I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Storybook: The Music of Mark Miller, by The Birdland Big Band and it's rich. Opening with title track, Storybook, an orchestral piece, Chris Smith holds a tight rein on the beat on drums with Brandon Lee on flugelhorn, Kenny Archer on piano and Nathan Childers on alto sax, backed by Troy Roberts and Sam Dillon on tenor sax, Jason Marshall on bari sax, David DeJesus, Sam Dillon and Nathan Childers on flute, John Walsh on trumpet, Mark Miller, James Burton III, Ron Wilkins, Sara Jacovino on trombones, James Borowski on bass trombone, and Noriko Ueda on bass. Classic, Tenderly features Nicole Zuraitis on vocals and a rich tenor solo by Sam Dillon and a shining trumpet lead by Raul Agraz. With a solid Latin beat, Sail Away features a fluid lead line by Glenn Drewes on flugelhorn and David DeJesus on soprano sax. Zuraitis is back up fron again on Close Your Eyes over a solid bass line by Ueda. Kenny Ascher lays down a real cool piano lead with Smith on drums. A real treat it Borowski who solos on bass trombone with war sax enrichment. Very nice. Chick Corea's Spain gets full orchestration with trumpets, trombones and saxes carrying the melody. Brandon Lee really blows a nice trumpet solo and Nathan Childers follows with energetic soprano sax soloing as well. Wrapping the release is Nonsense with a real swing. Zuraitis on vocal carries the lead, trading with Ron Wilkins with a hot trombone solo. Solid closer.
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