Tenor saxophonist Ernie Krivda has been a favorite of jazz audiences in his native Cleveland, Ohio for some time, but wider recognition has unjustly eluded him. His fourth CD for Koch (and second with the Fat Tuesday Big Band) is a masterpiece of swing with a nice mix of choice arrangements and plenty of hot solos. A very refreshing take of “‘S Wonderful” avoids the obvious paths, while Ernie Wilkins’ Basie-era chart of “One O’Clock Jump” is in good hands with Krivda and his band. Krivda adds a campy vocal to “On The Sunny Side of the Street” and wrote the Basieflavored “Irv’s at Midnight” as well. This is a very fun date worth picking up. – Ken Dryden
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