Cecilia Coleman Big Band - "Who Am I?" PandaKat Records 9802
Cecilia Coleman's big band recording offers everything necessary for enjoyable panoply of musical experiences including tight harmonies, excellent solos, well-written, original material and swinging arrangements! From the very first cut, Coleman's arrangements are off and running, like ponies at the starting gate. "Ode To A Tip Jar" must have been inspired by some guests offering C-note tips, because the music is upbeat, jubilant and Swings hard, featuring Steve Smyth on trumpet, Peter Brainin on soprano saxophone and Coleman on piano solo, setting the pace from the very beginning. Mike Campenni offers a short, but smashing drum solo. The next tune, "Along the Way" proffers a slow, waltz-like, 12/8 African rhythm with a strong, memorable melody and counter rhythms that move straight-ahead , bebop style. The arrangement brilliantly melds cultures together, the way jazz often seems to do, and showcases Keith Bishop's prowess on tenor saxophone. "For a Friend" is a composition that is highlighted by blended horn harmonics whose sweet, instrumental voicing reminded me of a young boy's choir. Coleman's band arrangements are well written and precisely presented. There is only one song on this recording that isn't composed by Coleman and that's the old standard "East of the Sun" where John Eckert's trumpet solo spills deliciously off the disc and David Coss appositely adds vocals. I rarely get to say this, but every cut on this CD is my favorite. All the other eight, album tunes are original compositions by the pianist and band leader Cecilia Coleman, whose CD title asks, "Who Am I"? If I may answer, I think Ms. Coleman and her big band are amazing!

Big Band Category   Downbeat Critics Poll 2017
Ryan Truesdell Gil Evans Project ...132
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra............112
Satoko Fujii Orchestra .................... 75
Joel Harrison Large Ensemble .................... 72
Ghost Train Orchestra....................59
Nicholas Payton Big    Band...................... 59
Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks ................ 56
Jason Lindner Big Band....................... 51
Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra............ 47
Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra.............41
Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica.............. 37
Tommy Igoe’s BirdlandBigBand.....32
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra .................... 28
Cecilia Coleman Big Band...................... 27
Karl Berger Creative Music Workshop Orchestra .................... 26
Pete Christlieb & Linda Small Eleven    Piece    Band..... 26
Nicholas Payton Television Studio Orchestra ....... 25
Howard Wiley and the Angola Project ........... 23
People’s Liberation Big Band...................... 22
Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra .................... 20
Monika Roscher Big    Band...................... 20
RISING STAR