Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra: Brush Fire

Against impossible odds, the Detroit jazz scene remains hot and continues to forge world-class players and ensembles. In the thick of it all you will find 34-year-old composer/pianist/author/educator Scott Gwinnell, who has played with heavy hitters from Joe Lovano to Dave Liebman as well as most of Motor Citys jazz elite. His orchestra performs regularly at one of Detroits swankiest watering holes, the ultra-classy Cliff Bells. Their second release, Brush Fire, offers moments of genuine spontaneous combustion, especially in the title track.

"Brush Fire" is a powerful, heady composition. After an opening Romanesque fanfare the head begs comparison to Freddie Hubbards "Intrepid Fox," though not quite as dark. Once the form straightens out into an uplifting samba for the solos, Keith Kaminski spreads his wings in a sprightly soprano flight, followed by neo-cool ruminations by trumpeter Justin Walter. A brief, almost melodic drum solo takes it back to the head, then out with Kaminski and Walter trading fours traded on the turnaround. Overall the band is tight, the spirited arrangement lean, listenable and balanced. Even those who are lukewarm on big band music should be sufficiently ignited by this brush fire.