Anyone familiar with the music business can tell you that it's hard enough to get a big band together for an occasional gig, let alone sustain it over an extended period of time. The time and effort involved in composing and arranging new charts, covering the cost of twelve or more musicians, and meshing their complicated schedules, all militate against the longevity of such enterprises. Thus, a working big band that features the best players performing challenging cutting edge jazz year after year is, in principle, almost an impossibility. Yet, for over a decade and a half, that is just what saxophonist Bobby Zankel and his ensemble of experienced, creative musicians -the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound -have managed to achieve. Through a combination of talent, experience, persistence, dedication, and the magic of group cohesiveness, they have beaten all the odds, working year after year to deliver music that excites and challenges their audiences.

What's their secret? In reality, it's no secret at all, but a matter of a few crucial ingredients that Zankel has mixed together in just the right way. First, there's Zankel's remarkable ability to compose and arrange charts, honed in his work with the likes of