An enthusiastic and skilled trombonist, arranger-composer and singer,
Scott Whitfield can always be counted on to provide musical excitement. This big band album, utilizing some of his favorite West Coast players, has an emphasis on heated material with six of the ten songs being
Whitfield originals.
Hank Mobley's "This I Dig of You" features tenor solos and trade-offs by Roger Neumann, Rusty Higgins and Ray Hermann, while
Whitfield's "Splat" has Bryant Byers, Gary Tole and the leader all taking trombone solos. Other selections include a jazz waltz version of
Lee Morgan's classic "Ceora," two vocal numbers for
Whitfield ("City Butterfly" and "Moonlight In Vermont") and an explosive "Hiccups" which has a memorable Larry E. Williams trumpet solo. Fans of modern straight-ahead big bands will definitely want this exciting release. ~ Scott Yanow