Dan Pugach Big Band: Bianca

OUTSIDE IN MUSIC 2401 (RECORDED FEBRUARY 2023)

Bianca is a different type of a drummer-led big band session, Different, because it seems that Dan Pugach is more interested in being a leader than the star of the band. The few solos he takes on “Masa” and “Discourse This!” time out to less than 15 seconds each! He seems more concerned about giving ample solo space to the players who gathered for this recording. Alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius takes a soulful solo over the steady beat of “Tolerance.” Trumpeter Stuart Mack soars on “Bianca.” Trombonist Jasim Perales’ lyricism is ideally suited for the ballad mood of “Bella the Bear.” Pianist Nitzan Gavrieli cuts through the big band for a well-crafted solo on the Joe Henderson inspired swinger “Scheppin’.” Pugach integrates Grammy Award winning vocalist Nicole Zuraitis into the mix on “Travel” and Val Halen’s “Dreams.” Pugach’s compositions and arrangements provide the perfect launching pad for these and other solos on Bianca. Through it all, Pugach does what a drummer should do — propel the band rather than overpowering it, and that he does with extreme taste and skill.

BOTTOM LINE: You might not recognize some of the names on this new session from drummer Dan Pugach, but you will recognize the style. Bianca is a straight-ahead contemporary big band session with wonderfully crarfted compositions and arrangements packed with strong solos.