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Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band
*/Captain Black Big Band
/(Posi-Tone Records ***1/2)

Pianist Orrin Evans embraces a larger-than-usual cast on this big-band 
recording. The seven pieces - one is recorded at Chris' Jazz Cafe in 
Philadelphia, the rest at the Jazz Gallery in New York - are 
hard-blowing, tumultuous affairs that could come from the Art Blakey 
playbook, albeit with some updating.

Evans, a composer, arranger, and even a promoter, pulls players from 
Philly and New York for a CD full of warm horns and slashing solos.

Composers/arrangers Todd Bashore and Todd Marcus offer up compositions 
and arrangements along with Evans, who keeps the reliably combustible 
proceedings on track. While not always pretty, it is the real deal. 
Tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen and altoists Rob Landham and Jaleel Shaw 
are some of the folks who light up this disc.

*- Karl Stark*