Succinct, macho, tight, compelling, grand, challengeing... This is definitely a 'bad-ass' big band playing seriously penned original music engineered by composer-jazzer Tim Hagans. Hagans writes in 'the mainstream' of jazz, (which is where I live). Ergo, I'm thoroughly enjoying doing this review. It'll probably write itself. And, no it won't be negative. SORRY!!  Each player and section of the band treats

Hagan's music as if it were a commission of music that expands into passages of great musical breadth, culminating into beautifully designed moments of ethereal harmony and melodic statement. These guys do it all... deceptive cadences, counterpoint, deliberation, passion, all with extraordinary craftmenship & sensitivity. If I might be subjective for a moment, I know from whence I speak... In that, I too have a wonderful big band which I've molded over a period of 15-yrs or so. It's a miracle of music to watch a big band like Hagann's, (and mine) evolve into such a formidanble force. Last, Let me pay homage to some of the inate 'engines' of this fine group, the player-soloists: A national treasure and good friend, & one of the few people in the world that can rationalize the mystery of improvisation, reedman extraordinaire George "Garz'"Garzone, along with luminaries such as Randy Brecker, super big band-small group drummer Peter Erkskine, Rufus Reid, Dave Liebman... In a word, an all star CD effort for our musical instruction.