Recent Recordings by Area Musicians

Trombonist Ron Kischuk’s The Masters of Music Big Band (Minus 9, Plus 2) has produced their second recording. The band is a sharp group of Detroit-area musicians who come together in this midsized big band.
In Splanky, a grab bag of standards by over a dozen master composers, several tracks stand out.

Spirited vocals by Judie Cochill and spirited solos by Kischuk and pianist Gary Schunk on “I Love Paris,” “Always” and “Old Black Magic.” Schunk shines throughout this date, especially his solo on the opening Basie tune, “Splanky,” where saxophonist Pete Kahn and trumpeter Dwight Adams also contribute fine solos. Russ Miller has put together a fresh arrangement of Ellington’s “Mood Indigo,” titled “Three Moods of Indigo,” where we get a tempo shift from ballad to funk, back to ballad, with another nice trumpet solo by Adams.

This is a cool recording to keep nearby whenever you want an instant lift.