Composer/conductor Dave Slonaker probably won't qualify as "prolific," at least based on recorded output alone, as he spends a lot of his time behind the scenes in film and television work—but one must appreciate the level of craftsmanship that he brings to his big band projects. His debut release, Intrada (Origin Records, 2014), received a well-earned Grammy nomination, and his sophomore effort is no less accomplished, with the well-designed compositions and outstanding ensemble work that justify all the attention it will no doubt receive.

Excepting the last cut, the Harry Warren/Mack Gordon-penned "I Had the Craziest Dream," the album features Slonaker's compositions, all of which are fully realized, multifaceted journeys that evolve in intriguing directions. The album's title track kicks things off wonderfully, with a fervid energy and a fiendishly complex arrangement. "A Curve in the Road" is similarly devious in its orchestration, with a growing urgency that emerges as the piece unfolds. Slonaker's rhythm section is a fine one, with pianist