This album is a swingin' romp through 11 great standards which includes five swingers, three exciting Latin-jazz numbers, and three haunting ballads all played with passion, drive and precision by this outstanding big band.
Reviews from CDBaby.com customers:
Don't Resist "Temptation" Reviewer: MNFUNK Besides seconding everything the previous reviewer stated, I'd like to add that this CD will be just as enjoyable to the casual listener as it will be to the experienced musician. I found myself "re-liking" songs that had gotten sort of "tired" for me. Ladd has made them fresh again. A truly excellent CD.
Great Big Band Writing and Performances! Reviewer: Steve Marsh Ladd McIntosh demonstrates on this CD that he is one of America's best big band arrangers. Ladd's charts are highly original and the band's playing is really top notch. Ladd's Los Angeles Big Band includes many of the very best musicians in L.A. The band is very well recorded and the ensemble playing is very tight. Check out Ladd's great arrangement of "Under My Skin" (amazing sax section writing), clever variations on "Savoy", and hard hitting Latin grooves on "Temptation" and "Dansero". Solo highlights include: Jon Crosse's beautiful clarinet feature on "Ill Wind" (originally written for Eddie Daniels), Kurt McGetterick's Bari feature on "I Got It Bad", Fred Seldon's alto catching fire on "Dansero", the outrageous playing of trombonist Eric Jorgensen, and wonderful trumpet solos by Bob Summers, Sal Cracchiolo, and Stan Watkins. Dick Weller is fantastic on drums throughout.