George Gruntz's
Concert Jazz Band is in particularly spirited form throughout
Global Excellence. Among the high points are the "I Got Rhythm"-based jam on "Steam Passage" featuring the tenors of
Larry Schneider,
Sal Giorgianni, and
Donny McCaslin, trombonist
Matthieu Michel's ballad feature on "Palace of Love," Renne Manning's singing on "Nee's Blues" (with
Dave Bargeron adding some screaming trombone), and the eccentric closer "Brain Play." Although a couple of the selections on the middle of this disc are a little less interesting (sounding like fairly straightforward concert music), there are enough surprises and left turns throughout this boisterous affair to make
Global Excellence highly recommended to fans of modern big bands.