In the Brass Palace

Kurt Elling joins forces with Germanys WDR Big Band for the lush and swinging In the Brass Palace. Conducted by tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer since 2016, WDR Big Band has a long history of showcasing guest performers. Whats particularly generous about the WDR approach is how much they cater to their guest artists; curating arrangements and song choices that both illuminate and expand upon a performers career. Here, they collaborate with Elling, digging into a nice cross-section of beloved standards and unexpected covers that touch upon all of the acclaimed vocalese singers stylistic touchstones from driving post-bop jazz and burnished ballads to funk-infused numbers. Elling and Mintzer are longtime associates and fittingly, the album opens with a cover of Joe Jacksons 1982 classic "Steppin Out," a song culled from the singers 2011 album The Gate on which Mintzer played. Equally compelling choices follow, including a romantically sophisticated take on Thad Jones "Desire," a groove-heavy reading of guitarist John Scofield and singer/songwriter Nina Clarks "My Very Own Ride," and an elegant rendition of the Duke Ellington ballad "I Like the Sunrise." We also get a cool, Tim Hagans-arrangement of Wayne Shorters "Speak No Evil," retitled "They Speak No Evil" and featuring poetic lyrics by Elling. Throughout, there are engaging solos by various WDR Big Band members, including Mintzer, who matches Ellings burnished baritone timbre on Joe Zawinuls "Current Affairs." ~ Matt Collar