The musicianship of this swing-oriented European quintet is excellent and there are plenty of colorful solos by trombonist Roy Williams, pianist Wolfgang Dalheimer, and particularly Alan Barnes on tenor, alto, and clarinet; Barnes’ spot on alto during Horace Silver’s “Sister Sadie” is one of the high points. The weak point to the program (all but the closing “Shiny Stockings,” which adds Rick Keller on tenor, is from January 17, 1998) is that drummer Pete York takes an excess of vocals. His singing is well-intentioned but his voice is merely average, slowing down the momentum and power of the music. Much better are the band’s instrumental renditions of “Big Swing Face,” “Isfahan,” and a nearly 20-minute medley from Duke Ellington’s sacred concerts that is comprised of “Tell Me It’s the Truth” and slow and fast versions of “Come Sunday.” The faster “Come Sunday” is known as “David Danced Before the Lord With All His Might” and has an exciting drum solo from York. That medley by itself is a good reason to acquire this disc from the German Nagel Heyer label. – Scott Yanow
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