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Five JAZZY Stars!! Composer/arranger Marty Sheller's ensemble scores BIG on this 2008 album of sizzling jazz performances generously laced with latin rhythms. Arrangers are the 'unsung heroes' of music often never getting their names mentioned on outstanding works or getting their own CD. Mr Sheller is one of jazz' most prolific composers and notable arrangers whose scores on this CD makes his nine-piece juggernaut sound like a much larger group. He has scored (and played trumpet and drums at one time) for a list of jazz masters (llke George Benson, Jon Faddis, Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria) that read like a brief history of jazz itself. Any competent jazz unit playing these scores could go into any jazz club in the country and blow the crowd away (bring your own solos), but here Mr Sheller gets to compose, select other songs, arrange, pick the personnel to play his charts, conduct, and hover over the engineers board: the results are marvelous.

Each track is a solid winner, which begins with the blazing performance of "The Route 40 Flyer" complete with shifting rhythmic frameworks, with that latin beat surging underneath. The vital rhythm section has pianist Oscar Hernandez, bassist Ruben Rodriguez, drummer Vince Cherico, and percussionist Steve Berrios. Trumpeters Chris Rogers and Joe Magnarelli, trombonist Sam Burtis, tenor saxophonist Bob Franceschini, and alto saxophonist Bobby Porcelli are the front line. "The Route 40 Flyer", "Mahjohg", and "El Pavo" feature thrilling solos on tenor sax, alto, trumpet, and trombone. "Sweet & Lovely" is the feature for Porcelli who improvises impressively over Sheller's wonderful chart. A great outing from Marty Sheller's wonderful ensemble, thanks to PVR Records. More, please!! My Highest Recommendation. Five HUGE Stars!! (iTunes Plus digital download)