Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I quite like a bit of big band jazz and, as many Cross Rhythms readers will know, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra have found their marketing niche by giving the great Christian public a Christian variant of the genre. Now, as Universal Music have just issued remastered versions of the classics of the two classic albums Frank Sinatra recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra, one has to say right away that Denver Bierman is no Sinatra and neither do the musos in The Mile High Orchestra play in the same sublime ballpark as Basie and co. But, to be fair, this band offer good humoured entertainment for audiences of a certain age while integrating a gospel message in between the roaring sax solos and furiously riffing brass section. Here this CD/DVD package recorded live in concert at the Trinity Auditorium in Hendersville, Tennessee cleverly take the audience on a musical journey which begins with Yuletide sentimentality ("Winter Wonderland", "Sleigh Ride") and leads to a bold proclamation of the incarnation ("O Come Emmanuel", "Joy To The World"). As well as recreating a reasonable facsimile of Goodman/Miller/Basie horn arrangements, the Mile High Orchestra also display the ability to get down with a bit of jazz funk with the drumming of Jared Ribble on "Little Drummer Boy" being particularly tasty. All in all, a reasonable stocking filler.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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