The
Bob Mintzer Big Band has been a part-time affair for the past 18 years, but somehow the orchestra always manages to sound like a regularly working band. The premise behind
Gently was to have the
Mintzer Big Band playing at a lower volume, with lyrical arrangements by the leader, along with a greater use of muted brass and flutes. However the orchestra still romps in places and the tempos vary. The big band (which boasts impressive musicianship) features solos from
Mintzer on tenor, trumpeters
Scott Wendholt, and
Michael Mossman, trombonist
Michael Davis, pianist
Phil Markowitz, altoist
Pete Yellin and others, with drummer
Peter Erskine driving the ensembles. The solo improvisations grow logically out of the arrangements, showing that
Mintzer is expert at writing for specific soloists. Among the high points are the title cut (a harmonically advanced medium-tempo blues), "Body and Soul,"
Thad Jones' "Don't Ever Leave Me," and "Who's Walking Who" (one of
Mintzer's six originals). The closing "Saxophone Quartet #2" is a complete change of pace, part of a suite that
Mintzer wrote for four saxophones backed by
Erskine. There are times when the
Bob Mintzer Big Band sounds a bit like the orchestras of
Gil Evans,
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, or
Don Sebesky, but in general it displays its own personality thanks to the writing and solos of
Bob Mintzer. Fans of modern big bands who enjoy hearing thoughtful music will want this set.