South Florida Jazz Orchestra
Summit, 2020, CD
Instrument: Instrumental
Issue: 27.2
Jazz Ruler Type: BigBand
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 82
O’s Notes: The South Florida Jazz Orchestra has been making good music for over 15 years, now under the direction of bassist Chuck Bergeron. The focus of their fourth recording, Cheap Thrills is the music of saxophonist, composer and arranger Rick Margitza who plays all sax solos. Special guests, guitarist John Hart and trumpeter Bryan Lynch make notable appearances. Bergeron harnesses the power of the large ensemble around the intimacy of a quartet notably on “The Place To Be” and “Widow’s Walk” but when beckoned, the power of the big band drapes the soloist with rich harmonies as on the title track. Well done.
Publicist: Braithwaite & Katz