Album Review: Islands from Dan Bonsanti and 14 Jazz Orchestra

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Album:  Islands
Artist:  Dan Bonsanti and 14 Jazz Orchestra
Label:  Self-Released
Website:  https://www.14jazzorchestra.com/new-release---islands.html

Islands, the 2023 release from composer and arranger Dan Bonsanti and his band, the 14 Jazz Orchestra, is a collection of swinging, big band jazz arrangements with 11 straight-ahead jazz tunes that merge big band bubbles with adult contemporary easiness, nuanced in jazz-imbued elegance.  Textured in jaunty keys liaised with smooth horns and cruising rhythmic beats, the recording fills the listener with pleasurable sensations that last from start to finish.

A feel good recording,  Bonsanti and his orchestra attain a state of enjoyment achieved by the likes of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Guy Lombardo Big Band.  The warm aesthetics emanating from the horns along "Part of Me" bathe the listener in cozy atmospherics, then traverse into a bossa nova shimmy across "Carmencita," written by Mike Levine, Bonsanti's co-composer on the recording.  “Missouri Uncompromised” is a Pat Metheny composition that has the instruments jetting, twisting and spiraling in a fashion that takes the listener on a fun-filled ride.

The fluttering whistles flowing from the flutes traipse lively across "Jitterbug Waltz," wielding a sonic pop luster while the earthy tones of the saxophones drive Levine's original work "Jaco" into steamy, bluesy terrain.  "Some Other Time" is contoured in wispy horns that soothe the senses with a creamy wailing, and turn energetic, bursting with enthusiasm through "Loft Dance," penned by Tom Boras, as percussive beats and glittering keys fill the arrangement.  The recording closes with a cadre of pensive verses in the instrumentation scrolled across "When She Loved Me," a song written by Randy Newman for the film Toy Story 2 and dedicated to Bonsanti's brother Neal.

This is the fourth release by Bonsanti and his orchestra, following Cartoon Bebop (2020), The Future Ain't What It Used to Be (2018) and Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy (2015).  Islands is a fun and engaging offering that propagates enjoyment in every score.

Musicians:
ED MAINA - alto sax, flutes
ED CALLE - tenor & soprano sax, flutes
PETER BREWER - tenor sax, flute, clarinet
MIKE BRIGNOLA - bari sax, flutes, bass clarinet
BRETT MURPHEY - trumpet
JASON CARDER - trumpet
JOHN LOVELL - trumpet
DANA TEBOE - trombone
MAJOR BAILEY - bass trombone
DANTE LUCIANI - trombone
LEE LEVIN - drums
MIKE HARVEY - drums
RICHARD BRAVO - percussion
MIKE LEVINE - piano
JOE DAVIDIAN - piano
LINDSEY BLAIR - guitars
NICKY ORTA - electric bass
TIM SMITH - electric bass
JAMIE OUSLEY - acoustic bass
DENNIS MARKS - acoustic bass
RANDY BERNSEN - guitar
MARK EGAN - electric bass
PETER ERSKINE - drums
WILL LEE - electric bass
DAVID LIEBMAN - soprano sax
MIKE MAINIERI - vibes

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