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Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band: Fascinatin’ Rhythm (Ropa Jazz)
Chicago has no shortage of fine big bands, and if Rob Parton’s ensemble has ranked among the best of them for years, this release helps explain why. The muscular trumpet section work, plush reed choirs and majestic sense of swing prove difficult to resist, as do shrewd arrangements by Mike Kocour and Antonio Garcia, among others. Though the repertoire leans toward familiar works by Gershwin and others, the performances sound fresh and rhythmically vigorous. The only quirk here is an unusual sound mix that often features the bass lines to excess.
